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Made in Ireland Exhibition
Made In Ireland celebrates the wealth and vibrancy of Ireland's studio crafts. The exhibition presents work by over 110 craftspeople each creating beautiful, considered objects using skills honed over many years.
The exhibition is on in the DCCI National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny until 30 January.

Meet the Maker online talks
This series of three talks features six of the craftspeople with work in the Made in Ireland exhibition and will be facilitated by the exhibition curators Hilary Morley, Mary Gallagher and Stephen O'Connell.

Thursday 13 January, 6pm - Nicola Gates and Rowena Sheen
Nicola Gates – Hand Weaver: Belfast. Nicola is a traditional weaver, using looms powered entirely by hand and foot. This is central to her making ethos. She designs and makes functional and decorative handwoven textiles in her studio in North Belfast, with the aim of using traditional techniques and natural materials in a contemporary and imaginative way.

Rowena Sheen – Jewellery Maker & Designer: Co Clare. Rowena designs and makes contemporary jewellery using native Irish wood, sterling silver, and Burren wildflower beeswax at her studio in Ennistymon. She is interested in the meeting point between traditional craft techniques, natural materials, and new technologies such as laser cutting. She makes lightweight, wearable forms that move with the human body. Her shapes are laser cut, hand refined, ebonised and assembled using sterling silver findings.

Thursday 20 January, 6pm - Alan Meredith & Jane Murtagh
Alan Meredith – Designer/Maker: Co Laois. Alan Meredith is a designer and maker working predominately in wood. He creates architectural installations, furniture pieces and turned wood sculptures in his studio in Portlaoise. Techniques employed include; steam bending, freeform carving, turning and traditional cabinetmaking amongst others.

Jane Murtagh – Artist Metalsmith: Co Clare. As a student, Jane Murtagh studied Fine Art. She went on to develop metal-working, foundry and smithing skills in Belgium and Dublin. Repousse has been her core technique for 40 years and colour is an integral part of her design process. She works in a studio in Cratloe.

Thursday January 27, 6pm - Rory Shearer & Frances Crowe
Rory Shearer – Studio Potter: Co Antrim. Rory Shearer is a functional potter who’s work is entirely wheel based and intentionally functional. He uses Stoneware clay and fine Porcelain, which is reduction-fired. He makes all his own glazes. He uses slips/metal oxide washes/Shino glaze and various mark making techniques. He wants his pots to be comfortable to hold and fit for purpose. He works from his studio in Ballymena.

Frances Crowe – Contemporary Tapestry Artist: Co Roscommon. Frances Crowe explores themes of emotion, memory and world events in her handwoven tapestries, utilising new materials and contemporary art forms. Her’s is an extremely long and slow process. A single large tapestry can take up to a year to complete. Displacement, separation, climate change and global warming are important themes for Frances who works in her studio near Four Mile House.