Craft in Laois

 Laois Year of Craft 2011

Laois are celebrated National Year of Craft in Style! To mark this very significant year in the craft industry the Laois Year of Craft Committee created an exciting and diverse range of events that toke place over the four months. From exhibitions to demonstrations, workshops to talks, children’s events to film screenings the county of Laois has been a crafty hive of activity for the final quarter of the year.

Award winning basket maker Joe Hogan brought his stunning traditional and contemporary baskets to a month long exhibition hosted by the Dunamaise Arts Centre.  To accompany this much anticipated exhibition local basket maker Martin Sinnott gave a workshop at the arts centre.

Abbeyleix library played host to an exhibition of some of the country’s finest craft makers; including wood turner David Comerford, textile artist Maeve Coulter, jeweller Helena Malone and ceramicist Edyta Syzmanska. Hailing from Laois and neighbouring county Kilkenny each maker exhibited a body of work that truly reflected the diversity and quality of craft work being produced by craft makers in our immediate environs.  To accompany this exhibition, a facilitated discussion toke place in the library with each craft maker, focusing on their careers and their work processes. It was a unique opportunity for the public to hear each maker talk about their craft and also actively engage in a question and answer session.

Master craftsperson Roger Bennett maked a very welcome return to this native county Laois and gave a demonstration in woodturning at Stradbally Library.  Having exhibited and taught all over the world we were truly honoured that Roger had agreed to take part in the Laois Year of Craft celebrations.

At the heart of the programme of events is craft for children. To encourage participation and appreciation of craft amongst our young people the Laois Year of Craft Committee initiated a whole series of craft workshops in various schools throughout the county. The fruits of these workshops have been shown in a young person’s exhibition in the new children’s gallery in Dunamaise called The Drawing Room. This exhibition has accompanied the Dunamaise Arts Centre’s own curated craft exhibition; called Pop up Collection and running until January 14 2012 the exhibition will turn into a pop up shop where all exhibited items will be for sale.

Mountmellick Embroidery is a central part of the Laois craft industry. A craft that has achieved both national and international renown its significance was recognised in the 1970’s by the creator of the multi award winning RTE Hands series, David Shaw Smith, in his episode on Irish embroidery. We were delighted to be joined by David for a talk in the Dunamaise Arts Centre before a public showing of this Hands episode. Dolores Bracken a long standing Mountmellick embroidery teacher, joined David on the day to give a demonstration in Mountmellick embroidery. Laois Partnership and Laois County Enterprise Board also ran training courses dedicated to the craft sector. 

The Laois Crafts Group

The Laois Crafts Group was established in 2002 with the aim of bringing Laois crafts to a wider audience through the development of a successful brand and network.  The group has initiated several projects in the past including production of a quality Laois Craft Group brochure and attendance at national craft fairs in Dublin, Cork and Carlow and the organisation of local craft exhibitions in Laois.  In 2005, the group hosted a national craft fair in Portlaoise to further raise the profile of craft work and craft products in the county. The 2nd Laois County Craft and Food Fair took place on Saturday, 4th November and Sunday, 5th November 2006 in St. Mary's Hall, Portlaoise. The event was organised by the members of the group and showcased over sixty exhibitors from twelve different counties, including a wide selection of Laois craft products.

For further information on becoming a member of the Laois Craft group, or to request an application form to exhibit at the next Laois County Craft and Food Fair please contact the Laois Craft Group:

Secretary, Ms. Edel O'Keefe +353 (0)87 2110999

Members of the Laois Craft Group include:

Jewellery

Helena Maone Goldsmith, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, Tel:  +353 (0)57 8660071 +353 (0)87 6987988 info@helenamalone.i www.helenamalone.ie
Leo Designs Ms. Mairead Dowling An Paircin, Garoon, Mountmellick, Co. Laois 
Bijouterie My Dream Ms. Liliya Guslyakova The Ballagh, Durrow, Co. Laois
 
Ceramics
Emoke Ceramics Ms. Edel O’Keeffe Lower Boley, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois

Framing
Irish Collectables Mr. Brian Woods Irish Collectables, 92 Kilnacourt Woods, Portarlington, Co. Laois details

Textiles
Hatai Pheig Ms. Peg Hackett Bushfield House, Borris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois details

Mountmellick Work Ms. Annie Kelly St. Martins, Acragar, Mountmellick, Co. Laois

The Bag Ladies Ms. Catriona Ryan / Ms. Maria Mullally Derrylamogue, Rosenalis, Co. Laois / Balladine, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois

Wood
Franz Design Mr. Franz Caffrey Manor House, Clonminan Business Park, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Bluebell Dolls Houses Mr. Karl Rafferty Pallas Little, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
 
Armada Crafts Ms. Dolores Bonham 37 Balladine, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois 
 
Ms. Jean Byrne Ms. Jean Byrne 34 Balladine Drive, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois