CRAFTS C O U N C O F IRELAND Royal Dublin Society Ball's Bridge Dublin 4
Ireland
telephone 6 8 0 6 4 5
Information WHY? The Crafts Council of Ireland was established last October by 24 organisations concerned w i t h the economic, cultural and social aspects of handcraft. By coming together and f o r m i n g a c o m m o n agreed policy for the development of handcraft in Ireland, these organisations felt that the efforts of each one of them w o u l d be rendered more effective. They also felt that there was a manifest need for co-ordination and exchange of information between all concerned w i t h the p r o m o t i o n and development of handcraft in this c o u n t r y .
WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO?
e)
encourage the development of facilities for the education and training of craftsmen
f)
raise standards of craftsman足 ship and the status of the craftsman
g)
provide an i n f o r m a t i o n and advisory service for craftsmen and assist the commercial development of crafts
h)
organise exhibitions
i)
support exhibitions and other activities of member organisations
j)
undertake such other activities as may be in accord w i t h the objectives of the Crafts Council of Ireland, including the receiving of grants, donations, presentat足 ions and such like
CRAFT SURVEY The Executive C o m m i t t e e wishes to thank the member organisations w h o supplied data in response to their general enquiry regarding the priorities of member organisations. This i n f o r m a t i o n has been most valuable to the Executive in determining its o w n priorities. A n o t h e r survey, the results of w h i c h are eagerly awaited, is that being carried o u t b y the Irish National Productivity Committee on handcrafts in the Western Region. This report has been commissioned by the Central Development C o m m i t t e e and w i l l certainly provide many valuable directional pointers t o the Council.
The objectives and aims of the Council as set o u t in its Constitution are: a)
to foster and develop crafts in Ireland
b)
co-ordinate organisations concerned w i t h crafts in pursuit of mutually agreed policies
c)
provide a f o r u m where matters of importance concerning craftsmen and crafts may be discussed.
d)
assist Government in the development of policies related t o crafts
CRAFT CONGRESS IN GALWAY The Council believes that the t w o most important questions facing it are those concerned w i t h the development of education and training facilities and the product足 ion of an overall long term plan for handcraft in Ireland. The Executive C o m m i t t e e has been concentrating o n these t w o aspects since its f o r m a t i o n and has been gathering the necessary data f r o m members on w h i c h these policies can be based.
The first Congress and Annual General Meeting of the Crafts Council of Ireland w i l l be held in Galway on the 2 9 t h and 30th of September. The Congress, w h i c h is being organised in collaboration w i t h the Western Development A u t h o r i t y , w i l l concentrate on the problems of developing handcrafts, particularly in the western counties. A n y individual interested in handcraft may attend the Congress
/.details of the programme w i l l sent to member societies at a ater date. It is hoped that as many as possible of the participants in the Greystones meeting of 1970 w i l l be able to attend this Congress and General Meeting as this w i l l provide a*meeting place f o r those really interested in formulating and implementing the policies of the Crafts Council of Ireland.
EDUCATION The Executive C o m m i t t e e has been in contact w i t h the Depart ment of Education on the matter of providing training for craftsmen in the short-term and has sent a memorandum t o the Department setting out the Council's views. It is hoped that some of the more pressing and immediate problems in this area may be solved in the near f u t u r e .
WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL IN ISTANBUL SOUTH EAST REGION CRAFT EXHIBITION This E x h i b i t i o n of regional crafts was held in Tramore, Co. Waterford f r o m Wednesday, J u l y 12 to Sunday, July 16. The exhibitors, f r o m counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and W e x f o r d , were home craftworkers, traditional and workshop craftsmen, small craft industries and co-operatives. There was a special loan exhibit ions of crafts not included in the scheduled categories. A variety of regional crafts were demonstrated. The specific purpose of the e x h i b i t i o n was to promote the p r o d u c t i o n and marketing of crafts in the south east region, and their organised development w i t h particular reference to those crafts based on the region's raw materials and its traditions of urban and rural craftsmanship. The e x h i b i t i o n , initiated by C o u n t r y Markets, forms part of the Royal Dublin Society's Craftsmanship Scheme 1972. It was organised by a regional committee representative of the South East Regional Development and Tourism Organisations, the region's five county Federation of the Irish C o u n t r y w o m e n ' s Association, Waterford C o u n t y Committee of Vocational Education, Tramore Failte, and Waterford C o u n t r y Market. The e x h i b i t i o n was opened b y Mr James J. Bowe, Chairman of the South East Regional Development Organisation A u t h o r i t y .
The General Assembly of the World Crafts Council w i l l take place in Istanbul, T u r k e y f r o m 21 st t o the 2 5 t h August 1972. Eash c o u n t r y is invited t o send up to 10 official delegates t o attend the General Assembly meeting to be held at the Tarabya Hotel and the related evening functions. Besides these ten, any number of other members and their families may like t o take the o p p o r t u n i t y t o visit T u r k e y , see its crafts and craftsmen and j o i n in the ' o p e n ' discussions. There are such events as a state reception, a T u r k i s h barbecue' and several planned craft tours, besides the concluding plenary session of the General Assembly o n August 5. The British Section is currently making arrangements f o r a special economy t o u r at an approximate cost of (8 days) £ 6 5 or (14 days) £ 8 2 . Should any Irish delegates wish t o attend the General Assembly it might be possible t o arrange t o j o i n the British section. However, if sufficient Irish craftsmen intimated their intention of attending, a special charter flight might be arranged through Aer Lingus. Early n o t i f i c a t i o n should be made to the H o n . Secretary, Crafts Council of Ireland, C/o. Royal D u b l i n Society, D u b l i n 4.
THE FEDERATION OF MAYO CRAFTS Over a year in existence this is a loosely k n i t federation of some t w e n t y groups w i t h i n the c o u n t y .
The groups meet in Castlebar about every t w o months and discuss c o m m o n problems, e.g. teachers, q u a l i t y c o n t r o l and markets. Last year the federation actively cooperated w i t h the Mayo C o m m u n i t y Council in mounting exhibitions in Castlebar and Claremorris and enlivened the proceedings w i t h t w o highly commended fashion shows of lace and crochet w o r k . Further, it assisted the I.N.P.C. in its survey of the position of crafts in Mayo and it awaits the result of this survey before embarking on a mail order scheme for w o r l d wide distribution.
MAYO HANDCRAFTS BALLYHAUNIS One of the pioneer organisations w i t h i n the c o u n t r y in popularis ing Irish lace and crochet w o r k w i t h its varied motifs, Mayo Handcrafts is taking its place among the leaders in this highly skilled craft. W i t h a small boutique in A b b e y Street it w o r k s on t w o levels and caters for the ordinary tourist w i t h the usual high class lines in lace, w o o l and crochet, w h i l e at the same t i m e much t h o u g h t and e f f o r t has gone into breaking into the haute couture market. A measure of encouragement is seen in the order f r o m Australia of a crochet table c l o t h w i t h an escallop m o t i f . The table c l o t h , w h i c h is 7yds x 3 yds w i l l take about a year to complete. These projects are a great source of supplementary income t o the many small farm holders in the locality and many workers have used their earnings on such things as deep-freezers or trips t o their relatives in the U.S.A. As a gesture of appreciation f o r service t o the c o m m u n i t y the local Junior Chamber conferred a signal honour on the organiser of Mayo Handcrafts, Mrs Cribben, by awarding her a plaque and t r o p h y and naming her as citizen of the year.
JNING WHEELS Me have been asked to supply the names of makers and suppliers of spinning wheels: Ashtonwood Products, Ardnathrush, Glengariff, Co. Cork. Arran t y p e wheels £ 2 9 . 2 5 p . , plus carriage Island t y p e wheels £ 3 8 . 0 0 plus carriage Half-size spinning wheels £ l 3 . 8 5 p . plus carriage James Shiels & Sons, Bridge Street, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal Spinning wheels in Redwood £15.00 Spinning wheels in Oak/Mahogany £17.00 Spinning wheels in Teak £20.00 Mr Terry Coakley, Tully, Renvyle, Galway No prices stated
ADMINISTRATION The Crafts Council of Ireland is temporarily headquartered at the Royal D u b l i n Society thanks t o the generosity of the R.D.S. Mr Desmond Clarke is acting H o n . Secretary and his staff are providing secretarial facilities. However, the Council realises that this cannot be a permanent arrange ment, and it is our intention t o establish as soon as possible a permanent secretariat f o r the Council w h i c h w i l l have the responsibility of f o l l o w i n g through on the agreed programme.
Galway C o u n t y Development Team: Mr A u s t i n A . Sharkey* C o u n t r y Workers L t d . : Miss A . Keogh Industrial Development A u t h o r i t y : Mr Desmond F i t z p a t r i c k * St. Catherine's College, Sion Hill: Sr. Helen McGing Monaghan C o u n t y Development Team: Mr T . A . Golden C o u n t r y Markets L t d . : Miss Muriel Gahan* K i l k e n n y Design Workshops L t d . : Mr James K i n g * National College of A r t : Miss Lucie Charles
NOTICES TO SECRETARIES OF MEMBER ORGANISATIONS Secretaries of member organisations are requested t o let the Secretary of the Council have details of any f u n c t i o n s or notices which they wish t o have inserted in future issues of the N E W S L E T T E R .
Irish Society for Design and Craftwork: Mr Peter Brennan* Gaeltarra Eireann: Mr K. Lannan Western J o i n t Handcraft: Mr T . S m y t h
MATERIAL FOR CRAFTSMEN
Cloonfad Handcraft L t d . : Rev. Father J. Canney
Potters clay — Dungannon clay:
Mayo Handcraft Co-Operative: Mrs M. Cribben
Heiton & McFerran, Tara Street, Dublin Clay and glazes: Wengers L i m i t e d , Eturia, Stoke-on-Trent
COUNCIL The present members of the Council are:
Messrs Padmore, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent
Ulster College The N o r t h e r n Ireland Polytechnic: Mr James W a r w i c k *
Warp string:
World Crafts Council — Irish Section: Mr Frank S u t t o n *
Irish Ropes, Newbridge, Co. Kildare Linen Thread Company, Hilden House, Parry Street, L o n d o n SW8 Metal — Copper: Gunning & Co., Rath R o w , D u b l i n Sheet metal:
Coras Trachtala: Mr Paul P. H o g a n * Bord Failte Eireann: Mr Brian Deane* National Development Association: Mr Vivian M u r r a y *
Silver:
Irish C o u n t r y w o m e n ' s Association: Miss S. Findlater
Wood: Factors Saw Mills, Great Strand Street, D u b l i n
* Member of Executive Committee.
Royal D u b l i n Society: Mr Desmond Clarke*
Dockrell & Co., Sheet Metal Work Ship Street, D u b l i n 8
Johnston Malhey & Co., 9 3 Hatton Gardens, L o n d o n EC 1
Slieve Bawn Co-Operative Society Ltd.: Mrs P. D u i g n a n *
Shannon Free A i r p o r t Development Co. L t d . : Mr E. A . M i l t o n Shannon Free A i r p o r t — Bunratty Handcrafts: Mr Kevin McEnnis
Produced by the Crafts Council of Ireland Royal Dublin Society Ball's Bridge Dublin 4