Westcountry Willows is a husband and wife team based in Ballinlough, County Roscommon. They are full-time basket makers, creating traditional handcrafted baskets, willow coffins, and sharing their skills through workshops held across the country. Their passion for heritage crafts is evident in their active participation at heritage days and country fairs, where they regularly demonstrate their work. For them, this isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life
A few years ago, they were honoured with the DCCI Sustainable Business Award, a milestone that helped them expand the willow coffin side of their business and continue their commitment to sustainable, meaningful craftsmanship.
Teaching a group of people how to make baskets or weaving a coffin.
I love weaving coffins, bringing comfort and choices to people who don’t have many choices left to them. We often invite people into the workshop to help weave their loved ones coffin and sometimes they help weave their own coffin.
Admin i suppose, i like to be getting on with weaving.
An old antique wicker hamper thats probably over 100 years old and has old leather strap repairs.
Who is your inspiration?
Im inspired by all the indigenous people throughout time who have made baskets from what was growing around them.
What advice would you give someone who is considering this craft career?
Practice, practice, practice, you never stop learning and getting better. The skill is also in the growing and preperation of willow, and learn from many different teachers to then go on and develop your own way of doing things.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Plants, trees, flowers, seed pots, natural patterns and rhythms in nature.
Is sustainability an important aspect of your business?
Basket making is naturaly sustainable, it just is, we dont need to try at it, theres no glue or nails or paint, just natural willow
What’s the most challenging part of your craft?
Working to a deadline with coffins (excuse the pun)
What made you choose your discipline?
Ive always been obsessed with baskets and making coffins and teaching led on from that.
What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a DCCI member
Definitely do it, we wouldn’t be where we are now without the DCCI
I didn’t expect that hand woven coffins would bring so much comfort to people and that i would love making them so much.
I usually talk my husband in to doing most of the business side of things and all the boring admin while i concentrate on creating
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