Recap: Opening of ‘Common Threads Exhibition’ in Kilkenny

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

By Annika Berglund

Poster of ‘Common Threads Exhibition’

The ‘Common Threads exhibition’ opened on Thursday, the 7th of August at the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s (DCCI) National Design & Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny. The show curated by Sarah Ross features a mix of work from Feltmakers Ireland and the Quilters’ Guild of Ireland.

The turnout at the opening was great, and we all had the opportunity to see an amazing array of works by both feltmakers and quilters. Seeing the two types of crafts side by side was very illuminating; they represented very different ways of making, yet both featured intricate and fantastic work. As a feltmaker, I gained a deeper respect for the skill and patience required to create the quilted artworks on display.

Photos of the Gallery

At the opening, Feltmakers Ireland was represented by at least 14 of our members, who enjoyed the buzz and the lovely weather.

From left to right: Eithne O’Dea, Hilary Delaney, Joanne Foley, Mary O’Rourke, Claire Merry, Hélène Dooley, Sandra Reynolds, Annika Berglund, Fiona Leech, Jane Fox, Siobhan Healy Ryan, Sharon Wells, Leiko Uchiyama, and Deirdre Crofts. Editor’s Note: We apologise if we have noted anyone’s name incorrectly.

The exhibition was opened by the head of the DCCI, Mary Blanchfield, followed by a speech by Moya Gerarthy of the Quilters Guild of Ireland. After that, it was my turn. Our blog mistress, Juliane, asked me for my written notes, but since I only had keywords, the gist of it was that the two sets of works looked great together!

Annika Berglund and Mary Blanchfield
Annika Berglund, Moya Gerarthy, Mary Blanchfield, and Sarah Ross

Then, I talked about the symbology of how wool is made, where wisps of wool combine into a strong whole through pressure and agitation, and I drew parallels to how our members come together and form a community. Finally, I extended a heartfelt thank you to the DCCI and our curator, Sarah Ross, who selected the work and worked with the gallery personnel to create a stunning exhibition. She spoke last and talked about the (massive) work involved in picking and how impressed she was with the quality of work on show.

We heartily recommend a visit to the gallery before the end of the show, which runs until the 1st of November.

~~ Annika Berglund, Dublin Ireland.

Portraits of Members

Annika Berglund
Deirdre Crofts
Leiko Uchiyama
Siobhan Healy Ryan
Sandra Reynolds
Joanne Foley
Christine Jordan
Sharon Wells
Fiona Leech
Ramona Farrelly
Tamzen Lundy with the poster for the exhibition
Lidiia Necheporenko
Eithne O’Dea
Claire Merry
Juliane Gorman
Neasa Ryan
Emily A Thompson
Hilary Delaney

Some more information about the show:

A contemporary textile exhibition exploring connection through fibre and form. This contemporary textile exhibition delves into the theme of connection—between people, materials, and traditions—through the tactile language of fibre and form. The exhibition will run from August 7 to November 1, 2025, offering visitors a rich sensory experience that celebrates both innovation and heritage in Irish textile art, showcasing the intricate and expressive work of artists from Feltmakers Ireland and The Quilters Guild of Ireland.

From our press release:

“This show is a testament to the creativity and technical expertise of the members of Feltmakers Ireland. Each piece tells a unique story, a vision realised in the medium of wool. It is a celebration of the diversity of feltmaking across Ireland. We are proud to showcase work that not only honours our craft but also pushes the boundaries of contemporary textile art.”

Feltmakers members included in the exhibition:

  • Annika Berglund
  • Christine Jordan
  • Claire Merry
  • Deirdre Crofts
  • Eithne O’Dea
  • Elaine Peden
  • Emily A Thompson
  • Fiona Leech
  • Heather Byrne
  • Hélène Dooley
  • Hilary Delaney
  • Jane Fox
  • Joanne Foley
  • Juliane Gorman
  • Karena Ryan
  • Leiko Uchiyama
  • Lidiia Necheporenko
  • Neasa Ryan
  • Ramona Farrelly
  • Sandra Reynolds
  • Sharon Wells
  • Siobhan Healy Ryan
  • Tamzen Lundy

Some Work from the Exhibition

Appreciation

Thank you to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, curator Sarah Ross, the Quilters Guild of Ireland, and the National Design and Craft Gallery of Ireland. Also, thanks to Annika for writing up the recap for the guild.

Thank you to the Gallery for the professional photos of the space, which we ‘borrowed’ from Instagram. Lastly, thank you to the members who shared their pictures via Instagram or WhatsApp. We apologise if we missed any artists’ works.

For more information about visiting the National Design and Craft Gallery of Ireland, please visit their website – https://www.dcci.ie/events/common-threads/?campaign=dcci-ndcg

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.