Last weekend saw the opening night of Irish Design Works 2024, a free exhibition of contemporary craft and design at Ballymaloe Grainstore in Cork featuring a selection of top Irish makers of furniture, ceramics and sculpture.
Throughout the weekend, visitors gathered from across the country to kick off the celebration of Irish design and craftsmanship, with the makers on hand each day to chat with the public about their work.
This marks the first Irish Design Works exhibition since 2019, and the first time it is taking place in Cork. The exhibition opens daily from 11am-5pm and continues until August 25th.
Irish Design Works 2024 allows an exclusive group of Irish makers from across the country to display their unique pieces, with a wide range of disciplines on show including furniture and lighting, ceramics, artisan rugs and knives, and sculptural works in wood, glass and willow.
This year’s makers are from Cork, Carlow, Clare, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary, Wicklow, and Wexford.
Speaking about the successful opening weekend, Tricia Harris of Studio Harris commented: “We were delighted with the great turnout over the opening weekend with people travelling from all parts of the country to visit the show. These shows provide not only a chance for us to meet and chat with customers directly, but also an opportunity for us to catch up and connect with fellow makers.
The Grainstore is a perfect space for a show like this, and the setting in Ballymaloe, especially in the glorious sunshine, made for a wonderful opening weekend.”
Echoing Tricia’s remarks, one of the founding organisers of the Irish Design Works series of exhibitions Ben Gabriel of Gabriel Furniture said: “We are delighted with the enthusiastic response from the visitors on the opening night and since. All the artists involved delivered their best work and presented to complement each other in the beautiful setting of the Grainstore at Ballymaloe.
We very much appreciate the opportunity and help from Ballymaloe and aim to develop the exhibition further into a creative platform for the artists and visitors alike.”
Irish Design Works 2024 continues until August 25th in Ballymaloe Grainstore, opening daily from 11am-5pm.
