13 Tipperary craftspeople to feature at National Crafts & Design Fair
Tipperary’s thriving arts and crafts sector will see 13 local exhibitors showcased in the biggest ever National Crafts and Design Fair at the Dublin RDS fromDecember 2-6.
Among the local craftspeople who will be showing off the best of Tipperary talent are Nenagh-based craft food producers The Scullery, Boulaban Ice Cream from Roscrea and Hickey’s Bakery in Clonmel.
Stoneware clay ceramic sculptural ‘Bindu’ vessel by Cloughjordan’s Grainne Watts & Thomas Wollen, stand no. B24-B26 at the National Crafts and Design Fair.
Others exhibiting at the fair include ceramics artist Gráinne Watts from Cloughjordan, and fashion designer Camelia Shanahan whose independent label Meli Bondre is based out of Thurles.
This is the Year of Irish Design and our top craftspeople and designers from fashion to jewellery and beyond will be exhibiting their cutting-edge wares alongside the more traditional fare.
“The Fair gives a vital economic stimulus to the crafts and design industry in Tipperary and elsewhere with a spend in excess of €1 million per day,” said Festival organiser Patrick O’Sullivan.
“The annual RDS fair is vital to the crafts industry as a whole and it is estimated that it generates enough business to keep most of the exhibitors’ busy for at least four months into the New Year.
“We are particularly pleased to have many excellent craftspeople from Tipperary involved and showing off such a huge array of skills and talents at the show.”
Record-breaking crowds of over 40,000 are due to attend the five-day event in the RDS which will feature over 600 stands this year.
The show features the best of contemporary crafts plus a spectacular Christmas food emporium with over 120 artisan food producers from all over Ireland.
The range of stands varies from jewellery, textiles, ceramics, woodcrafts and leatherwork to paintings, photography and naturally crafted beauty products.
“Many of Ireland’s most established and exciting new craftspeople will be there and because the goods are handmade, they have the added distinction of each one being unique,” said Patrick.
The National Crafts and Design Fair 2015 takes place at the RDS Main Hall from December 2-6 from 10am each day. Full details and booking can be found at www.nationalcraftsfair.ie
*Admission €10, OAP’s €8, children under 16 free
