Feature
Craft and Creativity
Craft and Creativity is a strong and vibrant sector despite the impact of Covid-19. It seems we are rediscovering the beauty, value and attractiveness of handmade, once off, locally sourced sustainable products. Matched with the joy of the Ballydesmond Water Colour Artist Jessica Baron craft technique, Meabh Ring has worked in the more and more driver in its own right - with the creative sector all her professional persons are taking up craft additional linkages to heritage, life; she started out in product practises to enjoy, many noting artistic, cultural and community design before setting up her the wellness and creativity that values. The craft sector adds own craft shop, then moving to comes with knitting, wood turning value not only to the tourism export craft. Now she works as a or candle making. Cork crafters experience but to the community business consultant specialising in and makers continue to be active, and societal landscape with many gift, craft, design, art - the creative with Cork Craft and Design a craft practised re imagined as sectors. Her work is in business county wide craft collective hosting a wellness and self-expression craft development, marketing, its ‘Cork Craft Month’ in August, experience, this is evident in branding, communication and the ‘Blackwater Valley Makers’ the uptake of craft classes and retail. Meabh is a trainer and are flying their flag of creativity training. mentor with the Design & Crafts with their Fermoy shop. Closer In August 2021, the Design & Council of Ireland. Meabh worked to home the REVAMP furniture Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) on the Wicklow Craft Strategy initiative in Newmarket is a key published a report which found and is currently a Coordinator for social craft enterprise with Saille that the “craft & design-intensive the Kildare Craft and Creative Baskets in Banteer awarded best sectors” and other design-focused Cluster. She works the Local new product at Showcase 2020. sectors generated over €53 billion Enterprise Office in Cork with their Like the food, music and in turnover in 2019, which would Showcase Ireland exhibitors and be the equivalent of 6.7% of with Enterprise Ireland. Meabh has entertainment sectors, the craft sector is a valid economic Ireland’s total business turnover built a reputation for working with in 2018. According to data regional craft collectives from the CSO there are including Cork Craft and over 18,000 enterprises Design, Blackwater Valley engaged in craft and design Makers and Original Kerry. intensive enterprises. This Growing up in Tipperary makes the sector the 8th and now living in West largest in Ireland. Cork, Meabh’s father has But it is not an easy road, Duhallow roots. craftspersons have to He is originally from find fairs, set up stands, Coolinarne, Millstreet and determine their pricing and played Senior Football with sell their products - and that the Duhallow divisional is before making a product team in 1962. or service. Craft Business consultant Meabh Ring Ester’s Aromas are a range natural handmade noted the benefits of taking products, which are made in Rylane
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DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com
Issue 67 July 1, 2022
