Today, Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) announced the winners of the Future Makers 2026 Awards and the David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award 2026 at a ceremony in Trinity College Dublin. Recognising the talented next generation of designers and makers, the Future Makers initiative named Donegal jewellery maker and goldsmith, Catreeney Harkin, as the 2026 Overall Emerging Maker Winner, and Wicklow textile maker, Ailbhe Beatty, as the Sustainable Design winner in the Emerging Maker category. In the Student & Recent Graduate category, fashion designer Roberts Zujans from Limerick was named the Overall Winner, while Camille O’Connell, a textile maker from Waterford, won the Sustainable Design Award in the same category. The David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award, which supports master craftspeople in the later stages of their careers, was awarded to Jane Murtagh, artist metalsmith, from Clare.
Both awards underscore DCCI’s ongoing commitment to supporting craftspeople at every stage of their career journey, from those just starting out in their career to long-established master craftspeople. Reflecting this investment, the 2026 programme features increased prize funds, distributing €63,000 across the Future Makers Awards categories and €15,000 through the David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award, which will strengthen sector impact and opportunity.
Divided into student and emerging practitioner categories, the Future Makers Awards cover a wide range of disciplines. It is one of the largest prize-funded design and craft award programmes in Europe, with each winner receiving a mentoring package valued at €1,000 in addition to the award. The David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award honours the legacy of film maker, David Shaw-Smith, whose Hands documentary series captured the skill, heritage, and spirit of Irish craftspeople. The winner of this year’s David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award Jane Murtagh will receive €5,000. In addition to this, the five shortlisted makers will each receive €2,000 in project support funding.
This year’s competition saw an exceptional lineup of talent from across Ireland, with shortlisted entries spanning furniture to fashion design and ceramics to glassblowing. Judging the Future Makers Awards shortlisted entries was an expert panel featuring Standing Ground couturier Michael Stewart – who also delivered the keynote speech at the Awards; curator Julia Ravenscroft; performance artist Leah Capaldi; textile artist Brankica Zilovic, and master potter Jack Doherty. Selecting the David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award 2026 recipient was a distinguished judging panel made up of curator Mary Gallagher; stained-glass artist Peter Young, and painter and printmaker Daniel Shaw-Smith. Together, these finalists represent the very best of Ireland’s emerging and established designers, makers and craftspeople.
Mary Blanchfield, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: “We are delighted to announce the winners of the Future Makers Awards and David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award 2026 and to celebrate the exceptional talent and dedication demonstrated by this year’s finalists. From emerging makers building their careers to master craftspeople continuing to make an important contribution to Ireland’s creative landscape, these awards recognise the passion, ambition, skill and innovation that continue to shape our design and craft sector. Supporting makers at every stage of their careers is central to DCCI’s work, and the increased prize funds this year reflect our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for makers to develop, grow and sustain their practices. Bringing both these groups physically together at the Awards today has been such a lovely opportunity for sharing experiences and passions across generation, which is intrinsic to Irish design and craft. We congratulate all this year’s winners and shortlisted makers and look forward to seeing how their work continues to evolve and make an impact both in Ireland and internationally.”
Future Makers judge Leah Capaldi, said: “DCCI’s Future Makers Awards prove that when artists are given time, space and support, creativity thrives. Ireland’s commitment to culture is uniquely inspiring, valuing artists and creative ambition in ways few countries do. The future is in safe hands and it’s proudly, unmistakably Irish.”
Fellow Future Makers judge Brankica Zilovic added: “It was a privilege to discover such ambitious and generous emerging talent. Future Makers celebrates not only making, but also curiosity, experimentation and the courage to imagine differently!”
David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award judges Mary Gallagher, Peter Young, and Daniel Shaw-Smith said: “We were impressed and encouraged by the skill, commitment and adventurous spirit of many of the applications. They do justice to the late David Shaw-Smith, whose passion for Irish craft was unbounded.”
For further information on Future Makers visit: https://bit.ly/4d1gVxu and for information on the David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award visit: https://bit.ly/4A02ROL
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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 Anya Hanna at Elevate PR, 01 662 5652 or email [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
For press queries regarding Michael Stewart please contact ModusBPCM on [email protected]
Notes to the Editors:
Future Makers Award Emerging Maker Winners:
NAME – DISCIPLINE – COUNTY – AWARD
Ailbhe Beatty - Textile Making – Wicklow – Sustainable Design Award Winner in Emerging Maker Category + Winner – Studio Support
Catreeney Harkin – Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing – Donegal -Overall Emerging Maker winner + Winner – Travel and Training
Ashley Shak-Penn – Textile Making – Dublin - Winner – Travel and Training
Ciarán Gell – Furniture Making - Dublin - Winner – Studio Support
Clodagh Molloy – Jewellery Making – Dublin – Winner – Exhibition Support
Conor Casey - Musical Instrument Making - Clare – Winner – Exhibition Support
Eva Lynch - Silversmithing / Hollowware – Wicklow – Winner – Travel and Training
Hannah McGrenera - Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing - Cork – Winner – Exhibition Support
Marta Ozog – Ceramics – Dublin - Winner – Studio Support
Vinh Truong – Ceramics – Dublin - Winner – Studio Support
Future Makers Award Student & Recent Graduate Winners:
NAME – DISCIPLINE – COUNTY – AWARD
Camille O’Connell - Textile Making – Waterford - Sustainable Design Award Winner in the Student & Recent Graduate Category
Roberts Zujans – Fashion Design – Limerick – Overall Student and Recent Graduate Winner + Winner – Materials
Alex Lambe – Fashion Design – Meath – Winner – Professional Development
Anna Cali – Fashion Design - Dublin – Winner – Travel and Training
Filip Hrubec – Furniture Making – Galway – Winner – Travel and Training
Axel Jordan Nieto Calvino – Furniture Making - Galway – Winner – Professional Development
Daniel Fahy – Fashion Design – Dublin - Winner – Travel and Training
Eimear Malone – Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing - Carlow – Winner – Travel and Training
Eoghan Prunty – Furniture Making – Wicklow - Winner – Materials
Eoin Dalton – Furniture Making – Clare - Winner – Materials
Evan O’Toole – Fashion Design – Dublin – Winner – Materials
Isabel Robinson - Furniture Making - Kilkenny - Winner – Professional Development
Kate Murphy – Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing – Galway – Winner – Materials
Patrick Orr – Furniture Making – Dublin – Winner – Materials
David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award Winners
Maker – Discipline – County
Jane Murtagh – Overall winner – Metalwork – Clare
Bernadette Tuite – Recipient of project support funding – Ceramics – Cork
Shane Holland - Recipient of project support funding – Multi-media Sculpture – Meath
Martha Quinn - Recipient of project support funding – Stone Sculpture – Sligo
Stevan Hartung - Recipient of project support funding – Furniture Making – Wicklow
Michael Andrew Ray – Recipient of project support funding – Glass / Ceramics – Cork
About Design & Crafts Council Ireland
Design & Crafts Council Ireland is the national agency for craft and design in Ireland, we support designers and makers to develop their businesses in a sustainable way, and advocate for the societal benefits of craft and design. 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
