Feltmakers Ireland guild member Sharon Wells, who is one of the organisers of Ireland hosting European Wool Day, will be interviewed on Castlebar FM Radio today at 12:10 PM.
To learn about the free and interactive hands-on activities that are part of the ‘European Wool Experience’ in Tralee on the 28th of March, listen here – https://crcfm.ie/
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
BeCraft presents a group exhibition, ‘A la belle vue de l’abattoir’, which marks 20 years of organisation.
Bringing together around fifty artists from twelve European countries, the exhibition explores the theme “Abattoirs” through contemporary applied arts and crafts practices. Through memory, poetry and critical perspectives, the works explore the history and contemporary meanings of these sites, now part of our heritage, and question our relationship to the living, to making, and to transformation.
BeCraft is a professional association that promotes applied arts in the Wallonia and Brussels regions. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, paper, textiles, and product design are among the creative fields in which the supported and promoted artists work. Since its inception, the association has worked closely with the ECA – European Crafts Alliance (formerly WCC-Europe).
Feltmakers Ireland memberDr Niki Collier‘s piece, ‘The guts to be accountable’, is part of the exhibition.
Artist Statement from Dr Collier –
This is a three-part handmade felt sculpture emoted from the texture and form of the stomach, the guts, and the tongue The sculpture is informed by a cow’s digestive system which is a complicated multitude of organs. They can be a source of learning and growth; simultaneously as an organ and as a symptom of how we interact with food. The food industry today has developed such a disconnect between the food that we eat and its origin that we are conditioned to believe that only certain parts of the animal are nutritious or have a purpose. Rather than looking into changing ourselves: our relationship to food and what and how we eat, we demand the humane killing of farmed animals. The work is also a comment on greed and how greed dictates smokescreens such as ‘’humane killing of animals’’ rather than addressing our behaviour in how and what we eat; which would have an actual impact on the sustainability of our environment. The stomach is now discarded as rubbish by the contemporary food industry, while it used to be a source of healing, a treat reserved for special occasions, and a membrane used to create tools for music and craft. The sculptures aim to start a conversation about our eating habits – what we should not discard – and focus on our own accountability rather than on methods of slaughter.
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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
Loli describes the many ways one can needle felt on garments.
On Sunday, the 8th of March, a small but committed group of Feltmakers Ireland members gathered together to upcycle with needle felt. Some brought hats, others brought berets, and others brought old jumpers. Committee member Loli Cox led us in this session.
Anything can be needle-felted
The members created a lovely range of needle-felted decorations, including flowers, sheep, and shamrocks. Adrienne had kindly brought along a selection of water-soluble templates that members could use on their pieces, if they so desired.
Some examples of the work created
Sandra holds up her jumper on which she has needle felted stripes and a circle.Siobhan made a shamrock using multicoloured green roving.Mairead used a water-soluble template that Adrienne had brought to the session.Marie made a bouquet of flowers on her hat.Helena needlefelted several berets. This one has blossoms.Margaret adorned a jumper with a classic sheep. The water soluble template was provided by Adrienne.
In preparation for the Session, Loli created a lovely floral garden (with a bee!) on her jumper. She can be seen standing in front of the CIE Social Club in Inchicore, where we meet.
Many thanks to Loli for leading us in this session, and to Sam Fagan, who helped in preparing so many needle-felted samples to inspire us for this Sunday’s session.
Our next Sunday Session, on the 12th of April, will focus on using printed transfers for needle felting. Committee member Adrienne Dempsey will lead us.
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
For March’s Sunday Session, Loli Cox and Sam Fagan will lead us in Upcycling old garments with Needle-Felted decorations.
Please bring an old wool jumper, scarf, hat or pair of jeans that you can ‘renovate’ with needle felt. If you have a set of metal cookie cutters, please bring them along!
You will also need to bring your Needle Felting Kit, although we will try to have some extra felting needles on hand. We will also have our first aid kit on hand – just in case!
In addition to decorating, we will demonstrate how to mend holes using needle felting = Practical Crafting Fun!
Samples from Loli and Sam
The Details:
When: Sunday, the 8th of March, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
If you can, please bring a home-baked good to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).
And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell. We do have the benefit of technology – there will be access via Zoom. See below.
Zoom Access to the Sunday Session:
We will email a Zoom link to all members for those who wish to attend virtually. Please check your email on Friday afternoon.
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
The European Wool Experience, a vibrant, free, family-friendly event, will be at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 10 AM–5 PM.
Celebrating Ireland’s hosting of ‘European Wool Day 2026’, this special public event, open to all, brings together exhibitors, makers and researchers from Ireland and more than 10 European countries, to connect and create a colourful, welcoming day of creativity, culture, and discovery.
Taking place at the start of the Easter school holidays, it’s an ideal day out for families, friends, individuals or organised groups looking for something creative and different.
Visitors can explore four rooms featuring over 35 demonstrations, exhibitions and interactive experiences, with plenty of opportunities to try wool crafts firsthand, including the following: wet felting, finger knitting, crios belt weaving, spinning, weaving, wool processing and more. Meet skilled makers, discover traditional and contemporary skills, view unique heritage displays, and enjoy a relaxed, hands-on atmosphere suitable for children and adults alike.
Throughout the day, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate feltmaking, and we will also lead interactive wet felting activities.
In addition to the guild, several members will be sharing their artwork and fibres. These include the following:
The guild is grateful to have received some funding from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. This helped us purchase Irish-raised wool from Ériu and WoolstoreIE, which members could use in their pieces.
Drop in to the European Wool Experience for an hour or stay and explore at your own pace; admission is completely free.
Groups of 10 or more can book in advance via ewd@ewe.network (subject: Group Visit).
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
We wanted to remind you that Feltmakers Ireland members’ exhibition, ‘Water and Flow’, has a submission deadline of Friday, the 13th of March at MIDNIGHT.
Our annual exhibition will be displayed at the beautiful Phoenix Park Visitors Centre gallery from Friday, the 3rd, through Sunday, the 26th of April. The show launches on Saturday, the 4th, at 3 PM.
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
The exhibition ‘Dressing Dublin: Made in Blackrock‘ explores the former local textile industry, the people who worked in it and how it was influenced by national and international economic forces. The project showcases the small area around Brookfield Terrace and Carysfort Avenue in Blackrock, County Dublin, which produced, until the 1980s, locally made textiles, hosiery, shirts, workwear, and much more.
The exhibition runs through Monday, the 9th of March.
If you cannot make it to the exhibition, you can learn more through Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@DLRofficial
There is a 30-minute film, an audio tour and an extended interview hosted by fashion historian, Laura Fitzachary.
The 22-minute film has interviews with former employees, Liam Dodd and Christine Fitzachary, which captures this history before this part of our local heritage disappears. Through these conversations, we can also review the current state of the clothing industry in Ireland today.
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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
For this month’s Feltmakers Ireland activity, we will be Upcycling old garments with Needle Felted decorations.
Please bring an old wool jumper, scarf or hat that you can ‘renovate’ with needle felt. In addition to decorating, we will demonstrate how to mend holes using needle felting.
You will also need to bring your Needle Felting Kit, although we will try to have some extra felting needles on hand. We will also have our first aid kit on hand – just in case!
The Details:
When: Sunday, the 8th of March, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
If you can, please bring a home-baked good to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).
And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell. We do have the benefit of technology – there will be access via Zoom. See below.
Zoom Access to the Sunday Session:
We will email a Zoom link to all members for those who wish to attend virtually. Please check your email on Friday afternoon.
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
Guild member Sharon Wells will be on the television programme Ireland: AM on the 1st of March, Sunday at 10 AM. She will talk about European Wool Day 2026, which Ireland is hosting on the 28th of March in Tralee, Co Kerry.
She will also share her artwork and demonstrate needlefelting.
Sharon is one of the organisers of the European Wool Day conference, which will also have a joint exhibition of work from members of Feltmakers Ireland, the International Feltmakers Association, and the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers. All of the artwork will incorporate Irish raised wool. There will also be a room with Interactive Wool Crafts.
Both the exhibition and the crafts are free to enter, and all ages are welcome.
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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
To get ready for European Wool Day, which will take place on the 28th of March in Tralee, Co Kerry, Fibreshed Ireland has organised a series of subsidised wool-related workshops around the island.
Workshops include the following:
From Farm to Fibre: the cycle of sheep’s wool production from birth to yarn, taught by Feltmakers Ireland member Christine Jordan of @roughcirclestudio, 7th of March, Co Carlow
Not just a Granny Square, 7th of March, Co Kerry
Aran Knitting Workshop, 8th of March, Co Galway
From Fleece to Fibre, 14th of March, Co Laois
Mindful Weaving Workshop, 14th of March, Co Dublin
Adapting Knitting Patterns for a Better Fit and Creative Changes, 14th of March, Co Dublin
Wool Spinning Workshop, 22nd of March, Co Antrim
Threads of Belonging: A day of Weaving, Connection and Care, 22nd of March, Co Waterford
The workshops have been made possible with support from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.
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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
