Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) announces a new initiative under its year-round Made Local campaign, designed to support and invest in the growth of retail opportunities for makers across Ireland this summer. Following a nationwide callout for applications, DCCI has pledged financial support to three Irish craft markets as part of the Made Local Summer campaign, reinforcing its commitment to championing Irish design, craftsmanship, sustainability, and local enterprise.
The three selected markets are Galway Potters Market, taking place on Saturday, 30th May and Sunday, 31st May at Eyre Square, Galway City, from 10am–6pm; Westport Makers Market, running every Saturday throughout the summer season at The Town Hall Theatre, Westport; and Clare Potters Market, taking place on Saturday, 13th June and Sunday, 14th June at Ballymorris Pottery, Cratloe, Co. Clare. Each market will receive €1,000 financial support from DCCI to help strengthen retail opportunities for makers from across Ireland and connect consumers directly with Irish-made products.
The Made Local campaign celebrates the exceptional talent, skill, originality, and creativity of Ireland’s designers and makers. This summer, DCCI is encouraging consumers to discover what is right on their doorstep by visiting Made Local markets and craft markets nationwide. From ceramics and textiles to jewellery, woodwork, homewares, and artisan gifts, shoppers will have the opportunity to discover and purchase beautiful, unique products directly from the makers themselves, while supporting local creative businesses and sustainable production practices.
The markets also highlight the joy of engaging directly with makers and learning about their processes, nurturing an important sense of community.
Carly McCann, organiser of the Galway Potters Market said:
“This is the 16th year of the Galway Potters Market, and we are very proud of what we have achieved over the years. This year’s added support from DCCI means we can put much needed resources into making our market an even bigger success. We look forward to welcoming the public to our market, we know they will enjoy meeting our talented makers, hearing their stories, and hopefully buying some beautiful Made Local pieces they will treasure forever.”
The Made Local campaign also reminds us of the many ways to experience and indulge in our craft curiosity through hands-on workshops and studio demonstrations offered by makers across Ireland over the summer, and throughout the year.
There are currently 1,511 makers and 355 retailers involved in the Made Local campaign, and these numbers continue to grow. All participating makers and retail outlets are listed in the Made Local directory, available at Made Local.
Made Local, Made to Last.
Search the Made Local directory at www.madelocal.ie
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For more information, please contact Eimear Harding, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, DCCI, 083 023 8743 or email [email protected]
For further press information please contact Claire Feely, Emma Kelly, Laura Daly or Eliza Gallagher at Elevate PR, 01 662 5652 or email [email protected]
About Design & Crafts Council Ireland
Design & Crafts Council Ireland is the national agency for design and craft in Ireland, we support designers and makers to develop their businesses in a sustainable way, and advocate for the societal benefits of design and craft. DCCI’s activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 68 member organisations and over 3,500 registered clients.
www.dcci.ie / @dccireland
Editor’s Notes
Dates of each market and more information is available below:
- Event Name: Galway Potters Market
- Event Dates: May 30th & 31st at Eyre Square in Galway from 10am-6pm.
- About: This is a pottery and ceramics market featuring approximately 30 makers from across Ireland. Galway Potters Market is a long-running ceramics market, this is the 16th year, it showcases the work of Irish ceramic artists and potters.
Made Local Makers at Galway Potters Market:
- Adele Stanley – Co. Waterford
- Clare Butler – Co. Limerick
- Run Baby Run Pottery (Donna Ironmonger) – Co. Dublin
- Cloonmore Pottery (Juliet Ball & Cormac O’Neill) – Co. Galway
- Lichen Ceramics (Bairbre Kennedy) – Co. Leitrim
- Church House Pottery (Lorna Hayes) – Co. Cork
- Living Ginger Designs (Louise Browne) – Co. Galway
- Maeve Gallagher – Co. Galway
- Maria Connolly – Co. Donegal
- Stories by Ola (Ola Wartak-Tolak) – Co. Dublin
- Rachel Leary – Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland
- Sandra Cole – Co. Tipperary
- Sonja Guethner – Co. Kilkenny
- Tamaru Hunt-Joshi – Co. Galway
- Tatiana Dobos – Co. Galway
- Katrina Treml – Co. Waterford
- Event Name: Clare Potters Market
- Event Dates: June 13th -14th, 2026
- About: Clare Potters Market is an annual weekend ceramics event hosted at Ballymorris Pottery on the border of County Clare and Limerick. The event brings together potters and ceramic artists from across Ireland to showcase ceramics, sculpture, and pottery within the historic surroundings of a 17th-century farmyard courtyard.
Made Local Makers at Clare Potters Market:
- Lichen Ceramics (Bairbre Kennedy) – Co. Leitrim
- Vale Ceramics (Vale Van Der Merwe) – Co. Carlow
- Michelle Hannon Ceramics – Co. Dublin
- Creative Clay (Raquel Walsh) – Co. Clare
- Jars of Clay (Sonja Guenther) – Co. Kilkenny
- Clare Butler – Co. Limerick
- Ballymorris Pottery (Hannah Arnup) – Co. Clare
- Church House Pottery (Lorna Hayes) – Co. Cork
- Karo Art (Karolina Grudniewska) – Co. Dublin
- Event Name: Westport Makers Market
- Event Schedule: Every Saturday throughout the summer season.
- About: Westport Makers Market is a curated summer market showcasing high-quality local and provincial handmade crafts. The market features a diverse selection of artisan goods including knitting, jewellery, pottery, and other handcrafted items. Located centrally within Westport at the Town Hall Theatre near The Octagon, the market has become a busy and well-recognised destination for visitors seeking unique handmade products and locally made gifts.
Made Local Makers at Westport Makers Market:
- Léan Candles (Melissa Morley) – Co. Mayo
