By Lauren Heskin
30th Nov 2021
30th Nov 2021
In this ultimate list, we've rounded up our favourite Irish makers from around the country, just in time for Christmas.
Ireland punches well above its weight when it comes to talented creatives. From painting to pottery, and weaving to woodwork, we’re well-represented across the board. In fact, it was a challenge to distil this list down to only 50. Buying from Irish makers has never been so easy.
1 Two Wooden Horses
Terry Cullen is the award-winning woodworker based in County Wicklow, who is behind the sought-after craft brand Two Wooden Horses. Specialising in handmade furniture and kitchen utensils, below, made using sustainably sourced Irish hardwood and materials, this is a brand that has integrity and sustainability at its heart. And the products are beautiful too. twowoodenhorses.com
2 Rathbornes 1488
Did you know that the world’s oldest candle company resides on these shores? Based in Dublin since 1488, Rathbourne lit the streets of Dublin and have continued to innovate by creating beautiful, slow-burning candles that incorporate the scent of Ireland’s landscapes. Their Dublin Dusk candle is a favourite, especially coming into the winter season. rathbornes1488.com
3 Sorrell Reilly
Selling her landscape prints in some of our favourite shops (including Irish Design Shop), Sorrell Reilly is based in Co Clare and combines her traditional printmaking skills for a digital element, creating unique, lino-inspired illustrations of Ireland’s countryside and urban landscape in beautiful colour palettes. She also offers a number of her designs in card-form and they’d make an excellent alternative to Christmas cards this year. Not only are you supporting Irish but they can be left on display all year around. etsy.com/sorrellreilly
4 Astrl Fibres
Based in Belfast, Astrl Fibres is here to tend to all our plant-hanging needs with its unique macrame creations. As we all have become truly devoted parents to our house plants this year, you can choose a hanging design to suspend your leafy favourites and make sure they maximise on daylight and air, or buy the kit and try your hand at macrame yourself. astrlfibres.com
5 Rebecca Killen
We have been smitten with this Northern Irish ceramicist’s adorable bone china milk bottle for some time, and with every drop she’s put a delicate twist on her signature design. Using a palette of mostly blues and soft pinks, she also has a range of china Christmas baubles, all handmade and painted in her workshop. However, these tend to fly out the door so keep your eyes peeled for her next shop drop in mid-November. rebeccakillenceramics.com
6 MAKA Ceramics
This ceramicist duo work from their studio in a wildflower field in Kilkenny and you can see how it influences their designs. Earthy and functional yet colourful and fine, they have a wide selection of tableware, jewellery, Christmas decorations and planters to choose from, all with their signature painterly finish. makaceramics.com
7 This Makes Scents
These are a new entry to Ireland’s surprisingly large candle-making community but their hand-pour soy wax candles are a welcome addition. Launched during lockdown, there is an emphasis on being as sustainable as possible, using recycled glass jars, bamboo burners and recycled paper packaging. Their selection of scents is equally as considered with natural combinations like peony and suede, frankincense and myrrh, and sage and seasalt. thismakessensecandles.ie
8 Loom Irish Linen
Another newbie, Loom Irish Linen is a sustainable linen pyjama brand born during lockdown in Tipperary. Keeping every element of the production as plastic-free and local as possible, the linen is milled in Antrim and then made in Dublin. Coming in a simple, classic design in three colour-ways, who doesn’t love to get fresh jammies for Christmas. loomirishlinen.com
9 KaroArt
A gorgeous Dublin potter, Karolina’s work bridges from tableware to decorative plates and unique baubles, all featuring her pastel palette and whimsical fairytale creatures. Working with clay, she also takes commissions including house plate numbers and some beautiful one-off pieces. karoart.eu
10 Glint Glass
The tagline of this glass studio in Dublin is “sustainable, ethical and Irish made”, and that’s exactly what you get with its simple range of glass beakers, vases and soap dishes. Run by glass blowers Sinead Brennan and Róisín de Buitléar, they reuse used glass like old wine bottles destined for recycling or landfill to create functional pieces. glintglassstudio.com
11 Kaiko Studio
Creating jewellery and homewares form its studio in Wicklow, this design duo use resin and brass to create sculptural candle holders, plant pots, necklaces, earrings and lots more that defy the man-made industrial nature of concrete. kaikostudio.com
12 Liadain Aiken
One of Ireland’s most colourful weavers, you’ll surely have spotted a Liadain Aiken tri-colour bobble hat bouncing around town. You can either choose from her ready-made collection of brightly knitted jumpers, hats, scarves and mittens, or request your own unique colourway. Using Donegal wool, each piece is made by Liadain and her team in their Ballydehob studio. liadainaiken.com
13 Kathryn Davey
Hand-dying Irish linen and wool using food waste like avocado stones and onion skins, Kathryn Davey has created a beautiful palette for herself. Pick up table linens, shopping bags, scarves or socks from her online shop, or treat yourself to her own e-book on natural dying so you can try it for yourself. kathryndavey.com
14 Tinnock Farm
These hand-poured candles are made on and inspired by the sights and smells of the rural Tipperary farm it calls home. Kirsten Ivors makes each candle with 100% soy wax, cotton wicks and high-quality essential oils to create enticing aromas like Bluebell Woods, Irish Forest, Plum & Rhubarb and Lavender Field. tinnockfarmtipperary.com
15 Saturday Workshop
This father-daughter duo Edward and Iseult O’Clery created Saturday Workshop to make quality wooden toys that even an adult would love to receive. Working from their Sandymount studio, their adorable wooden sea life, boats, egg cups and X’s and O’s game are sure to delight and be handed down to every new generation. saturdayworkshop.ie
16 Croistal na Rinne
With decades of experience cutting glass for Waterford Crystal and now his own company Criostal an Rinne, Eamonn Terry is one of Ireland’s foremost glass craftspeople. His delicate work is summarised into four collections of tumblers, carafes, and wine glasses, all with their own unique story and etched by Eamon’s steady hand. croistal.com
17 Woolly Mammoth
As we all returned to traditional hobbies, Emma Robinson has been studiously hand-dying her own knitting yarn from her home in Co Antrim. Deciding to make it a full-time gig you can now buy her naturally dyed yarns online, as specific sets for sock or jumpers or as many skeins as you like. Perfect for the knitter in your life. woollymammothfibrecompany.com
18 Jerpoint Glass
It’s a family affair in Jerpoint Glass Studio in Kilkenny, with Keith and Kathleen Leadbetter and their four children all involved in the glassblowing business. Their recent foray into block colours with the Horizon Collection of glasses and vases might be our favourite yet, but there’s sure to be a mouth-blown glass object for everyone amongst their vast array of glassware jerpointglass.com
19 Brookfield Farm
On the shores of Lough Derg, Brookfield Farm is a sustainable bee farm rung by beekeeper Ailbhe Gerrard. Making her own honey and pure beeswax candles, you can get involved as much as you want, investing in a few dinner candles for the festive season or joining her Hiveshare, where you’ll receive the honey for your hive and a sample box of beeswax delights. brookfield.farm
20 Ail + El
Colour and concrete don’t often go together but at Ail + El they make an excellent team, with sunshine streak cascading over their concrete plant pots, coasters and tealight holders. Each piece is hand cast in concrete and individually finished with geometric patterns by maker Aileen in her workshop next to the Phoenix Park in Dublin. ailandel.com
21 John Hanly
Making capes, scarves and wraps, it’s John Hanly’s merino cashmere blend throws that really caught our eye. Butter soft and in an array of colours and patterns, they are a worthwhile investment you’ll wrap yourself in for winters to come. The company, based in their mill by the Nenagh River in Co Tipperary, has been around for almost 130 years, and is still run by the Hanly family. johnhanly.com
22 Coolree Design
As well as making beautiful timber furniture, Coolree Design in Co Kildare has a number of smaller pieces perfect for gifting. From delicate timber vases and coasters to their colourful selection of Wrap wall hooks, their decidedly simple approach to woodworking sets them apart. coolreedesign.ie
23 Blue Badger Studio
In West Cork Kathryn Kneefel specialises in ink paintings and pastel portraits of people’s pets, as well as offering customisable creature prints and greetings cards in her online shop. bluebadgerstudio.ie
23 Jando
Founded in 2015 by husband and wife Julie & Owen Mc Loughlin, JANDO is a multi-award winning printmaking studio based in Dublin. Combining cinematic perspective and a love of architecture – with a pop culture sensibility – JANDO’s work is exciting and modern, with a strong emphasis placed on kineticism and a playful use of colour. jandodesign.com
24 We Make Good
We Make Good products are designed by some of Ireland’s best emerging designers and made by people facing social challenges who have been supported to develop valuable skills and gain employment in their craft. Each product they offer stands for big ideas – hope, opportunity and a belief in each other. They offer a huge range, from beeswax candles to linens, to wicker baskets. wemakegood.ie
25 Foxford Woollen Mills
Scarves, throws, baby blankets, bed linens … whatever way you like to snuggle up to natural Irish wools and linens, Foxford have you covered. An important Irish heritage brand, Foxford have been keeping us under wraps since 1892 and continue to make long-lasting quality and enduring style their trademarks. foxfordwoollenmills.com
26 Sally Caulwell
Sally Caulwell is a Dublin-based illustrator and designer producing absolutely gorgeous prints of Irish flora and fauna as well as customisable name prints, which make beautiful gifts. Caulwell’s talented use of line, texture and colour combine to create stand-out images that work well in any home. sallycaulwell.com
27 Hey, Bulldog! Design
“Future friendly design”, is how partners Amanda and Joe describe the quirky, colourful and sustainable products, which really emphasise the notion that “life’s too short to surround yourself with dull, drab homewares!” Amanda and Joe come from a Fine Art and Engineering background allowing them to play with materials and colour and from this process create beautiful, handmade homewares. heybulldogdesign.com
28 Martina Scott
Line, pattern and “the drama in our everyday life” inspire Martina Scott, whose nature prints are hand screen printed on to Irish linen. The texture and natural finish of the linen adds a beautiful depth and richness to the drawings. Each limited edition print looks slightly different to the last, these differences being part and parcel of the natural handmade process. Uniquely cherishable. martinascott.ie
29 Fiáin
An Irish grooming and lifestyle brand, Fiáin products are as beautiful to look at as the are to use. From unisex shaving products, to cologne-infused candles made from sustainable coconut and soy, to hand-stitched and crafted leather goods, this Galway outfit has something for everyone. fiain.ie
30 Flock
Jamie Lewis’s Felt Animal Collection is a delightful range created by a craftsman who has been working with felt since 2003. Originally an outlet for reusing his own wool and felt off-cuts and waste from other work as stuffing, his wool creatures have blossomed into their own brand and Jamie’s main business. Loveable, tactile pieces to treasure. flockstudio.ie
31 Sam agus Nessa
Sam agus Nessa is an award-winning furniture and product design company based in county Kildare, who design and create contemporary, functional furniture and homewares utilising locally sourced, Irish materials. Their quirky creations are handmade, unique and beautifully packaged. samagusnessa.com
32 Bean and Goose
Sisters Karen and Natalie Keane sisters are founders of Bean and Goose, a chocolate company based in Co Wexford. The sisters began making chocolate using the traditional technique of hand tempering on marble slabs, a process that gave them a strong understanding of working with chocolate: “You have to slow down, you have to be patient and you have to be persistent.” Their Seasons Eatings Bundle is a super gift for the chocolate lover in your family. beanandgoose.ie
33 Brookwood Pottery
Brookwood Pottery was set up in 2012 by potter Elaine Fallon. In 2017 Elaine established a design shop and studio in Dublin where she teaches ceramics and provides pottery membership to people who want to create their own work. Her online shop has developed to include work by over 20 makers whom Elaine admires including textiles, print, homewares and jewellery. brookwoodpottery.com
34 Tara O’Brien
A custom portrait of you, you and your pet, you and a partner, you and your friends … or maybe your whole family. A lovely idea from illustrator Tara O’Brien whose custom full-body portraits are a joy to view and behold. Simply get in touch, send a number of photographs for Tara’s inspo and await the magic! taraobrien.co
35 Burren Perfumery
The Burren Perfumery is a small, family-owned company making cosmetics and perfumes inspired by the landscape. Everything is made on site in the west of Ireland, by hand, in small batches. Burren produce balms, oils, creams, scents, body lotions, soaps and so much more. Beautiful packaging make anything here a worthy gift. burrenperfumery.com
36 31 Chapel Lane
Established in 2012 by Damien and Joi Hannigan. 31 Chapel Lane is an independent luxury clothing label and garment making house, headquartered in the Georgian centre of Limerick City. They make “exceptional things for men and women who appreciate craftsmanship, highest quality natural materials, and prefer to own things for life”. 31chapellane.com
37 Hewn Spoons
Based in his riverside studio in Ennistymon, Co Clare, Eamon OSullivan carves beautiful cooking and eating spoons from greenwood that he forages for locally. Invest in one of his pieces and treasure it for life or book a one-day workshop (he’s now running them online) and make your very own. hewn.ie
38 Arran Street East
This Christmas, Arran Street East, an award-winning pottery studio based in Dublin, has collaborated with other Irish makers to create beautiful gift sets. From woodturner and coffee roasters to chocolatiers and a candle maker; from artisan producers of chutneys, to skin care specialists. Made in limited editions and paired with Arran Street East handmade ceramics in stunning colours, the sets are now available online at Arran Street East Christmas Shop. arranstreeteast.ie
39 Emerald & Wax
Emerald and Wax is borne out of a passion for African wax prints. Drawing on her Ghanaian upbringing, Virtue Shine brings the art and colour of traditional wax prints to European design, delivering what she describes as “wearable art for today’s confident woman” These beautiful scarves are extremely wearable and add both colour and style to any capsule wardrobe. emeraldandwaxdesigns.com
40 Badly Made Books
Stocking up on recycled paper stationery by Badly Made Books is a virtuous and stylish way to keep a home office running smoothly. Comprising 75 per cent recycled post-consumer waste, the notebooks, sketch pads and greetings cards are designed and made in Ireland meaning there is the most minimal carbon footprint. badlymadebooks.com
41 Drift Knits
Hand-knitted lovely, woolly scarves and snoods from Drift Knits mean social distancing outdoors can be done snugly while still looking pretty swell. Made in 100 per cent pure wool, they will also last a lifetime if properly taken care of. Slow fashion at its best. Available from Drift Knits’ online store now. driftknits.com
42 Jennifer Slattery
Beautifully crafted heirloom linens and woollens are Jennifer Slattery’s stock-in-trade. Produced in her studio/shop in Dublin 7, her pieces find their way to all corners of the globe, such is their unique appeal. From personalised gifts, to trays, napkins, table runners, apparel, and more, these are an excellent contemporary/classic expression of Irish textiles. jenniferslattery.com
43 Diem Pottery
Thomas Diem is a second generation designer and potter. Born in NYC but living in Ireland since he was a child, his first taste of pottery came in his own father’s studio. At Diem Pottery they “believe that the objects we use have a great effect on our lives”. Designed and created by hand, the pieces combine traditional skills with a contemporary design edge. diempottery.com
44 J. HILL’s Standard
J. HILL’s Standard make tactile and beautiful objects in glass. Currently, we are very fond of their crystal candle holders and beeswax candle sets, which have been released just in time for Christmas. Part of the Nigel Peake collection, the holders are mouth blown and hand cut, and the beeswax candles smell wonderful. jhillsstandard.com
45 WildBird Studio
Deck the halls with gorgeous recycled glass decorations by Irish artist Alison Byrne of WildBird Studio. 100 percent recycled, Alison’s clever new collection of contemporary Christmas decorations utilises her glass studio’s off-cuts, delivering a whimsical array of frosty and fabulous tree ornaments, which we love. wildbirdstudio.ie
46 G’wan Ireland (Hen’s Teeth)
The ever-cool cats over at Hen’s Teeth give a monthly shout-out to “up-and-comers and all-stars” from the Irish art and illustration world. The prints are usually exciting and always covetable. A lovely gift idea for the visual nerd in your life. hensteethstore.com
47 Field Apothecary
“It’s a dream job to ‘bottle’ the scents of Ireland; and take you on a fragrant journey from the mist and sprays of an Irish rainstorm to floral patchwork fields.” We tend to agree with Alix from Field Apothecary, whose scented candles are nourishment for the soul. fielddayireland.co.uk
48 Lovern Leather Goods
Eye-catching, understated, crafted from the finest Italian leather … with its good looks and endless practicality Sandra Lovern’s immutable ‘barrel bag’ could genuinely be considered a bag for life. For many clued-in Irish women it is. lovernleathergoods.com
49 Turbante-se
Turbante-se specialise in gorgeously graphic, colourful turbans and head wraps. They also know a thing or two about their history and the connections between aesthetics, politics and art … Founder Thaís Muniz has been a pioneer on the research focused on the turbans and head wraps in Afro-Atlantic culture and its place in political activism. Thought-provokingly stylish headwear … turbante-se.com
50 Wild Cocoon
Drawing on an intriguing craft heritage, a qualification from NCAD and her love of ‘making’, Deirdre Duffy has developed a range of woven treasures – for the person or the home – that transport the user back to a more innocent time. Cocooned in a woollen blanket, feeling the weight and protection of it. wildcocoon.ie
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