Thursday, 1st June, 2023: Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins were presented with an Irish Ash platter by Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, and Imelda Connolly, Chair of Irish Woodturners’ Guild at the Design & Crafts Council Ireland Irish Craft Village on the opening day of Bloom today.
33 of Ireland’s most creative craft brands are showcasing at Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) Irish Craft Village at Bord Bia Bloom, which runs until Monday, 5th June. Visitors to the DCCI Irish Craft Village will have the opportunity to see the work of 33 exhibitors from across the country over the five days, many of which are part of the Made Local, Made to Last campaign which highlights the originality, quality and value of Irish designed and craft-made products.
Exhibitors have been chosen across a range of counties and disciplines. Over 90 small businesses responded to the Design & Crafts Council’s call out for exhibitors earlier this year. Following a rigorous selection process, places were offered to 33 businesses, 25% of whom are new to the DCCI Irish Craft Village. The 33 makers exhibiting at Bord Bia Bloom were selected by a panel chosen by DCCI.
New collections launched this year include Lorraine Fletcher’s gold leaf embellished wildflower prints; Duck Blue’s floral collections featuring native Irish plants; birdfeeders and birdhouses from Coolree Design. Discover Michele Hannon’s porcelain plates inspired by the Phoenix Park Victorian Walled Garden; Jennifer Rothwell’s “Bloom James Joyce” printed bow-ties and pocket squares; Jerpoint Glass Studio’s glass hot air balloons designed specifically with Bloom in mind; Kopper Kreation’s bud vases which use recycled iron tubes from the plumbing industry, along with Clare O’Connor’s limited-edition prints and eco-friendly umbrellas.
DCCI Irish Craft Village will showcase different demonstrations daily as visitors are shown the process of turning raw material into finished products across a variety of disciplines. There will be daily demonstrations from the Irish Artist Blacksmith’s Association, which will demonstrate techniques such as forging in the fire and hammering out on the anvil. Members will be on hand throughout the show to explain the process to the public. There will also be demonstrations from the Irish Woodturners Guild, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Feltmakers Ireland which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Irish Woodturners Guild, founded in 1983, is one of the world’s oldest woodturning associations with chapters all over Ireland. The guild will host demonstrations all day long, everything from turning spinning tops and honey drizzlers to egg cups, bud vases and tealights. In addition, they will host longer demonstrations such as small bowls, goblets, and candlesticks.
Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland said: ““Bord Bia Bloom is a great start to the summer each year. This year the DCCI Irish Craft Village returns to give makers a platform in front of the tens of thousands due to attend. All the brands you will see at DCCI Irish Craft Village, work to create beautiful and unique products and showcase them to people from all over the country at Bloom. It is an honour that DCCI can provide this platform for Irish talent. I want to thank the Chief Executive of Bord Bia, Jim O’Toole for his support of our makers. This is a great example of national agencies working together.”
Adding to this, Peigin Crowley of Ground Wellbeing, said: “Being shortlisted as one of the 33 makers to showcase Ground Wellbeing at DCCI Irish Craft Village is such an honour. The energy that goes into bringing makers of various disciplines together from across Ireland at Bloom more than champions the founders – it puts spotlight on buying and supporting Irish craft and makers, while also celebrating each particular industry in front of a huge audience. Our place at the DCCI Irish Craft Village at Bloom establishes us at the highest level and has given the team and I such confidence.”
For those that love to shop there is plenty to choose from in the DCCI Irish Craft Village with brands such as Baurnafea Studio, Adelle Hickey, Ground Wellbeing, Jo Brown and Jerpoint Glass all showcasing and selling their pieces. Each of the 33 brands featured in this area create stunning handmade products that will be sure to tempt and inspire. A full list of exhibitors can be seen below.
For further information on the Irish Business Design Challenge, visit https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/bord-bia-bloom/www.dcci.ie/ibdc-2023.
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 or Rachel Farrell at Elevate PR, 01 662 5652 or email [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
Notes to Editors
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, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 70 member organisations and over 3,600 registered clients.
www.dcci.ie @dccireland
Overview of Bloom 2023
2023 marks the return of Bord Bía’s very successful show and the event represents opportunities for craft makers to promote and sell their products to over 100,000 people over 5 days.
Bloom, which celebrates its seventeenth birthday in 2023, has been deemed one of the nations’ favourite summer events and takes place across 70 acres in the Phoenix Park. Bord Bía’s very successful show and the event represent opportunities for craft makers to promote and sell their products to over 100,000 people over 5 days.
