Connect with the soul of Ireland through heritage crafts
Immerse yourself in a hands-on experience of Irish craft and meaningfully connect with the island’s rich heritage.
Celtic Woodturning, Co. Armagh
In August, Ireland celebrates its vibrant craft sector and the makers and designers who have safeguarded traditional Celtic skills and those who have reimagined them for the modern world. With a range of special craft events taking place across the island, it’s a brilliant opportunity to see crafts people at work, pick up a unique handmade gift and engage in an authentic craft experience.
If you miss the August celebrations, don’t worry, there are also many craft experiences that run year-round. These include an exceptional bog-oak carving experience from Celtic Roots in County Westmeath, which gives you a chance to connect with Ireland’s ancient boglands and their mystical energy. Led by sculptor Eibhlín Ní Chongháile, the experience begins with a visit to the boglands where she sources primitive woods that have lain deep underground for thousands of years. You will then learn how to carve the wood into a personal talisman that will be your connection to Ireland’s ancient past. The process of chiselling, shaping and burnishing the wood combines physical and meditative activity that is truly mesmeric. During the class Eibhlín shares tales of the bogland from Irish folklore and explains the sacred power of this age-old wood.
Connemara Woolcraft Experience, Connemara, Co Galway
In the rugged west of Ireland, many traditional crafts have been preserved and are honoured as an important part of the region’s local heritage. At Connemara Woolcraft Experience in County Mayo, you can learn to spin, dye, and weave local wool using traditional tools and techniques. Expert weavers working on wheels and looms from the early 1900s demonstrate how sheep’s wool is made into yarn or cloth while explaining the history of the local woollen industry and its importance to the community. The tactile, hands-on experience of working looms and spinning wheels will take you back to simpler times when making textiles was part of daily life.
In early Irish society, blacksmiths were held in high esteem and believed to have supernatural powers because of their ability to turn raw ore into tools. You can learn more about this age-old art at the 9 Irons Blacksmith Experience in County Mayo. Blacksmith Patrick Strahan demonstrates basic forging techniques and then helps you craft an item using fire and hammer. It’s a physical experience unlike any other and one that requires you to be fully present in the moment.
Windrush Farm, Co Wicklow
At a nature-inspired art workshop in beautiful County Wicklow you can first find tranquillity on a foraging walk through a private reserve and then unleash your creativity. Celebrating Ireland’s creative soul and deep reverence for the land, the Art in the Wild at Windrush Farm is all about making art from natural materials. Artist Lucy and ecologist Sophie lead the workshop and guide you in making artworks such as journals, eco-prints, and charcoal sketches.
Each of these activities, and many more across the island, will give you an authentic taste of Ireland’s crafts and an appreciation of the traditions and folklore that are at the heart of Irish identity. Taking time to create something with your own hands is a great way to slow down, feel physically connected to the world and enjoy the sensory and emotional richness of working with nature’s gifts.