Made in Ireland

Trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore has taken on a new role as ambassador for the second annual Made Local campaign. The first woman to be leading jockey at Cheltenham and ride the winner at the Grand National wants to encourage people to join her in supporting Ireland’s great crafts people

Made Local was devised by the Design and Craft Council of Ireland (DCCI) last year to help promote and support a struggling Irish craft industry through the pandemic. After a historic year, jockey Rachael Blackmore helped launch this year’s (#madelocal) campaign which will run throughout the summer. In lending her support, she says she discovered “some amazing Irish designers through the Made Local initiative” and has pledged to continue to buy from Irish designers whenever possible. Not only was she the lead jockey at Cheltenham this year, she rode Minella Times to victory in the Grand National just a few weeks later.

“I am so proud to be part of the Made Local 2021 initiative. It’s incredible to see so many talented Irish makers who have spent decades honing their crafts, creating everything from timeless pieces and heirlooms to treasured gifts and home comforts,” Rachel commented. 

She also believes that the time for supporting local makers has never been “more critical with so many struggling to persevere in their craft”.

There are currently 14,500 people employed in the design and craft sector in Ireland and it is worth €500m to the economy. The sector struggled, along with other small businesses, during the pandemic. Andrew Bradley who chairs DCCI, said: “Irish craft and design is an inherent part of the Irish identity.  Over the past year, our studies have shown an increased desire from Irish consumers to choose quality products created by designers and craftspeople in their local communities.” 

This year the campaign is focusing on the stories of these makers, he explains, building an “even greater affinity between them and their customers” to help support the rejuvenation of the industry. 

Here are five of our great women crafts people to watch out for…

Alanna Plekkenpol, ByAlanna, Co Wicklow

Founded in 2015, Alanna creates illustrations on tiles that are fun, tongue-in-cheek and inspired by Irish landscapes and pop culture. There is also a nod to her half-Dutch background in the way she incorporates traditional Delft Blue patterns in her work. 

Alanna is multi-award winning and has been selected by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland to be part of the prestigious Design Ireland programme.

Ailbhe Gerrard, Brookfield Farm, Co Clare

Ailbhe Gerrard is the farmer, beekeeper and craftsperson behind Brookfield Farm. After working and living in Dublin and abroad for many years she returned to the shores of Lough Derg beside her family home. Ailbhe has farmed Brookfield Farm for ten years, growing skills, developing new ideas and making collaborations with skilled agriculturalists, apiarists and direct links with consumers.

Ailbhe studied sustainable development MSc in University College London, and organic farming in the renowned Scottish Agricultural College (SRUC). She is honoured with a Nuffield Agricultural Scholarship and is a Farming for Nature Ambassador and Judge. Ailbhe lectures at Gurteen Agricultural College and also teaches regenerative agriculture.

Ailbhe is developing Brookfield Farm as a visitor attraction, with insights into beekeeping, honey production, and the importance of pollinators. Guests can taste raw Irish honey, get a real sense of beekeeping through a virtual tour with close-up buzzing bees in 3D. End by learning how to make a beeswax candle.

Elaine Kellegher, LAINEY K, Co Meath

Lainey K was founded in 2016 by Elaine Kellegher, born out of love for typography, illustration and all things design led. After years of working in travel, marketing and branding, she decided to leave the corporate world behind and took a leap. She now creates contemporary, design -led greeting cards and art prints, made to give you a little giggle and a definite feel-good factor every time you see them. LAINEY K, was built learning as she went, with a vision of producing visually appealing, high quality products, made in Ireland. Over the last few years, LAINEY K has grown from an initial range of Christmas greeting cards, to a wide range of cards and art prints that are now on sale right across Ireland and beyond, with plans for more. 

Liz Walsh, 29 Bride Street, Co Dublin

A NCAD graduate of Fine Art and then Ceramics, Liz Walsh is the founder of 29 Bride Street. Dublin's Hand Painted Irish Linen House. Her mother was a great seamstress, and so she supposes that she inherited a love for fabric from her, a joy that can only come from bringing a garment to life from a simple piece of fabric.

Every aspect of the business is home grown. Liz designs, prints and finishes every Bride Street product. It’s a labour of love to work with Irish Linen, crafting her products and pairing modern printed designs with this Heritage fabric.

Known for its contemporary style and vibrancy, Liz admits that she has always loved to draw shapes and patterns acknowledging that mark making helps quiet her mind and puts her in a near meditative state. When a customer purchases a 29 Bride Street piece, they are creating links to the future of Irish Linen. The value in a circular economy is one that is at the heart of her business.

Working with Irish Linen has created an opportunity to honour her Irish heritage. Sourcing Linen here in Ireland is central to 29 Brides Streets brand values. 

Sarah Carroll Kelly, Shock of Grey - Co Dublin 8

With a degree in Sculpture, Sarah soon discovered there wasn’t a huge amount of demand for people chipping away at marble with a chisel, so she worked as an artist, designer and musician for over 20 years, while doing a master’s and lecturing in Design.   

From the moment she discovered her first lock of grey hair she knew it was time to bite the bullet and venture out alone. Her business is fittingly called Shock of Grey, and creates hand-crafted, sustainable, but bold and beautiful statement jewellery from unpredictable materials, such as wood, brass, plastic, silicone and clay. Pieces are designed, wood cut and painted, and clay moulded and cast in Dublin. Wherever possible other parts are sustainably sourced, and finished jewellery makes its way to you in recyclable packaging. Each piece is one of a kind. WW

For more visit dcci.ie.