Irish Craft Heroes
Design & Crafts Council Ireland
Irish Craft Heroes is a highly-visual, outdoor panel trail celebrating Ireland’s inspirational craftspeople and makers whose work has contributed to the rich tapestry of craft and design practice in Ireland.
The exhibition charts the evolution of the craft and design sector on the island of Ireland over the last 50 years, and pays homage to the many makers whose work has significant legacy.
As part of the initiative to celebrate ‘Ireland’s Craft Heroes’, the craft community, industry stakeholders, and public were invited to nominate their #IrishCraftHero; makers whose work inspires and has significantly impacted the sector over the past 50 years.
Over 600 nominations were received, and an expert committee was convened – charged with the difficult task of narrowing the selection to 50 makers, representing 50 years of outstanding craft and design innovation in Ireland.
Nominations were reviewed on criteria of skill, design, impact, innovation and originality. The nominations demonstrated the wealth of inspirational makers working in Ireland throughout the last 50 years. It also highlighted that so many other heroes significantly contribute to the craft community whether through commitment to education; leading development of disciplines through Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies; establishing innovative projects to support makers; and advocating on behalf of the sector.
The outdoor panel trail launched in Kilkenny Castle in 2021, to coincide with Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s 50th Anniversary since its establishment in 1971. It then toured to Dublin Castle in Autumn 2021, and Galway and Cork in 2022, and now to Belfast this summer.
Presented by Belfast International Arts Festival and Craft NI | Curated by Design & Crafts Council Ireland | Supported by National Museums NI
Image credit: Cara Murphy
Related Events
Craft NI Gallery: Irish Craft Heroes Exhibition
4th August – 7th November
To accompany the outdoor trail, Craft NI will show a capsule exhibition of work from the Northern Ireland-based Heroes. We hope you’ll enjoy the opportunity to see their stunning work up close, a perfect complement to the outdoor exhibition in Botanic Gardens.
Makers: Seliena Coyle, Jack Doherty, Sara Flynn, Bob Johnston, Alison Lowry, Michael McCrory, Peter Meanley and Cara Murphy.
Opening of exhibition: Thursday 4th August, 6pm-8pm
All are welcome to attend! Part of Late Night Art. Craft NI Gallery, 115-119 Royal Avenue (opposite Central Library)
Craft at the Museum Series
1) The Historic Craft Collection Tour, Tuesday 9 August 1-2pm
The Historic Craft Collection Tour in the Applied Art Gallery at the Ulster Museum by Kim Mawhinney, Senior Curator of Art, National Museums NI.
An overview of the extraordinary collection held by the Ulster Museum, which will look at everything from how Belleek is made, to how to spot an early Irish glass decanter,
Free and everyone welcome (Come up to the 5th Floor for 1pm)
2) The Contemporary Glass Collection Tour, Tuesday 16 August 1-2pm
The Contemporary Glass Collection Tour in the Applied Art Gallery at the Ulster Museum by Kim Mawhinney, Senior Curator of Art, National Museums NI.
In this United Nations International Year of Glass 2022, learn how the Ulster Museum has one of the most important collections of international glass in Europe. Explore the different techniques used by glassmakers to create these most amazing artworks.
Free and everyone welcome (Come up to the 5th Floor for 1pm)
3) The Contemporary Ceramics Collection Tour, Tuesday 23 August 1-2pm
The Contemporary Ceramics Collection Tour in the Applied Art Gallery at the Ulster Museum by Kim Mawhinney, Senior Curator of Art, National Museums NI.
For over 45 years the Ulster Museum has been collecting contemporary ceramics by some of the most important international makers. Come along to hear about how clay can be transformed by these ceramic artists into the most beautiful and intriguing artworks.
Free and everyone welcome (Come up to the 5th Floor for 1pm)
More details to follow on series of talks by craft makers and curators throughout September.
