Category: News

Wishing All a Happy and Felt-Full Christmas

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Dear Feltmakers Ireland Community,

As the festive season approaches, we wish you and all supporters of Feltmakers Ireland a joyful, peaceful, and safe Christmas with your loved ones. We hope the holidays bring moments of creativity—perhaps even a chance to make some felt!

Looking ahead to the New Year, our first Sunday Session of 2026 promises to be an inspiring start! On Sunday, the 12th of January, we will have a ‘Mind Mapping and Photographing Artwork Session’. Guild members Dee Crofts and Ramona Farrelly will guide us in preparing for our upcoming exhibition at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre. The theme this year is ‘Water & Flow’, and we will be exhibiting during April.

To learn more about the exhibition, visit this page on our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exhibition-application-2026-water-and-flow/

As the calendar year comes to an end, we invite you to renew your membership online – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and creative holiday season!

With warm regards,
The Committee of Feltmakers Ireland

PS: Unless there is breaking news that cannot be missed, we will take a short break over the holidays. We will return with daily blog and social media posts on Monday, the 2nd of January. So, in the meantime, Happy New Year & Happy Felting!!!

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: European Wool Day in Tralee, Co Kerry – the 28th of March

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Irish Grown Wool Council and Sharon Wells are excited to announce that Ireland has been selected as the host country for European Wool Day 2026!

Bringing together sheep farmers, designers, makers, researchers, crafters, educators, practitioners and those with a general interest in wool from across the island of Ireland and Europe to celebrate wool’s role in sustainability, circular economies and cultural heritage.


More information at https://lnkd.in/gYMQgRhe and https://ewe.network/ewd2026/

Register: Conference registration bookings at https://bit.ly/EWD26booking

Call for applications to present is open at www.ewe.network/ewd2026/

Co-hosts & Sponsor: Many thanks to the co-hosts, the European Wool Exchange Foundation, Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR), and sponsors, including FutureIslandIsland, and REVEIRE

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

Join in celebrating wool, connection, and collaboration at #EWD26 in Co Tralee, Ireland.

Instagram: @irish_grown_wool_council_ @sharonwellsart @ewe_foundation__ 

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Wool Map of Ireland – World’s Largest 3D Knit Scene

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image from Irish Independent Newspaper with headlines of 'Huge wool map of Ireland ratified by GUinness as world's largest 3D knitted scene'. Also includes a photo of the women who knitted the map.

The Guinness Book of Records has said that the huge knitted wool map of Ireland, created by a group of knitters at Carnew Community Care, in Co Wicklow, is the largest 3-dimensional knitted scene in the world! The map is 5 by 4 metres, took over four years and thousands of hours to make. It includes buildings and places iconic to Ireland.

To read more, visit here (There ~may~ be paywall for the full article) – https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/gorey-news/huge-wool-map-of-ireland-ratified-by-guinness-as-worlds-largest-3d-knitted-scene/a1011522360.html

If you missed seeing the map on display at Gifted at the RDS, it can be viewed in person at Carnew Community Care in Carnew, Co Wicklow. For more information, visit this website – https://visitwicklow.ie/listing/knitted-map-of-ireland-carnew-community-care/

There is also a short, cute video on the above website – so many cool details!

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Reminder: Membership Renewal Time

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland


It’s now THAT time of year – time to renew your Feltmakers Ireland membership. Our membership is valid for a calendar year, from January to December.

Good News:

If you joined Feltmakers Ireland through the Dublin Fibre Festival in October (or later), your membership will automatically roll over and remain valid through 2026.

Why Renew? Member Benefits Include:

Monthly Sunday Sessions

Take part in our popular Sunday Sessions, featuring hands-on felting, Textile Journeys, and more opportunities to learn and connect. We now have monthly meetings in County Galway too!

Exhibitions and Shows

Members are eligible to participate in our annual exhibition and additional group shows. In 2026, we will be exhibiting at:

  • Phoenix Park Visitor Centre (April)
  • European Wool Day, Tralee (May)
  • A group exhibition at The Leitrim Design House later in the year

Public Demonstrations of Feltmaking

Eligible members can demonstrate feltmaking to the public. In 2025, we shared the magic of feltmaking at:

  • Bloom
  • Two August Craft Month Open Days
  • Tullamore Show
  • Dublin Fibre Festival
  • Fibreshed Ireland’s Textile Market

Workshops & Learning Opportunities

Members can register for Feltmakers Ireland workshops. In 2025, these included:

  • Two multi-day workshops with international tutors
  • Our annual Fine Felt Workshop
  • Our Basic & Beyond course

Promotion & Visibility

  • Have your felting classes listed on our Resources Page
  • Share your exhibitions, courses, and other news on our blog and social media*
  • Be part of our Guild’s raising the profile of Feltmaking

Community

Most importantly, membership means being part of the warm, supportive, and inspiring Feltmakers Ireland community.

*We aim to be inclusive and share all members’ news. However, due to time constraints, we may be unable to share all events. We are an all-volunteer organisation. Please send your news to feltmakersIE@gmail.com

Ready to Renew (or Join)?

To renew your membership (or join) Feltmakers Ireland, please visit our Membership Page –https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

We look forward to another creative year!

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Awards: ArtLinks Bursary Submissions Now Open – Co Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image courtesy of Mayumi Nakabayashi, created at the European Land Art Festival as part of her ArtLinks bursary in 2024.

ArtLinks partners in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford have opened submissions for the Professional and Emerging ArtLinks Bursary Awards 2026.

The Awards are designed to support artists in developing their practice by providing them with the time and resources to think, research, reflect, and critically engage with their art.

They will consider applications for assistance with any of the following areas of support:

  • Travel and training
  • Mentorship
  • To assist with education at the graduate level
  • Projects with a demonstrable benefit to practice development

Artists must be registered with ArtLinks to avail of these supports, and new artists must be registered on or before the 12th of January, 2026, to be eligible to apply.

Deadline: the 19th of January.

For more information, visit their website to locate the application for your particular county – https://linktr.ee/ArtLinks.ie

Their Instagram – @artlinks.ie

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Wool March in Tilburg, Netherlands – the 20th of December

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

On Saturday, the 20th of December at noon, there will be a Wool March in Tilburg, Netherlands.

The Wool March is a growing movement that supports shepherding and the revaluing of wool by literally walking together. Each year, the organisers lead a march in which local shepherds guide their flocks—along with members of the public—to and from pasture. Past editions have been held in Tilburg, The Netherlands, and have been generously hosted by the TextielMuseum, which is an inspiring destination in itself. https://www.textielmuseum.nl/

Participants and supporters of the Wool March come from all walks of life, including farmers, felters, and fashion designers, as well as politicians, breeders, and biologists.

There will also be a Wool March to the European Parliament in September 2026. The group is selling ‘Wool Activist Kits’ that include felting instructions and raw Kempische Heideschaap fibre from sheep that graze the Dutch coastal dunes. These kits are to create a blanket to be worn (or sent) to the Brussels Wool March – https://www.woolmarch.com/wool-activist-kit

For more information and to register for the Wool March in December, visit the Wool March website – https://www.woolmarch.com/lets-walk/wool-march-tilburg-2025

Their Instagram: @woolmarch


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.

Of Interest: De-Stash Sale of Merino Roving, Silk Fibres, and Silk Fabrics – Sunday – CIE Hall Inchicore, D8

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

This Sunday, the 7th of December, Feltmakers Ireland is hosting a special De-Stash Sale for two of our longtime members: our founder, Elizabeth Bonnar and former secretary, Clare Brophy.

There will be bagged Merino fibre, Tussah silk fibre, Silk fabrics, and more available for purchase.

Throughout the Session, Elizabeth will demonstrate feltmaking using the various fibres and fabrics available. Long-time member Clare Brophy will assist with the sales.

The sale is open to ALL. One does not need to be a member of the guild.

Please spread the word amongst your textile-loving friends!

When: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Where: CIE Sports Hall, Library Square, Inchicore, Kilmainham, Dublin, D08 PA07

Directions

If coming by car, turn off Grattan Crescent onto South Terrace, then right onto West Terrace, and arrive at the Square outside the Hall. It is the large building facing Library Square.

If taking public transit from the centre of Dublin, the G1, G2 and number 60 buses stop on Sarsfield Road. The stop on the route from town is 2643. Facing the stone wall, turn left and walk back approximately 16 strides from the bus stop to go through a ‘hole’ in the stone wall. Walk along Inchicore Terrace North past the houses, and you will see the CIE Hall as you come around the corner.(Do not walk forward from the bus stop towards the train underpass). 

Note: The Guild will also be having our monthly Sunday Session during this time. So, please do bring your in-progress crafting projects for a fun session together!

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Upcoming Christmas Craft Fairs – Part 4

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

This is the FOURTH in our series on members who are participating in holiday craft fairs. Have a look at our previous posts, as Parts 1, 2, and 3 have events this weekend.

Karena Ryan will be vending on the 5th and 6th of December, Friday 5 – 8 PM, Saturday 11 -3 PM.

Where: Above Niche Burger, High Street, Co Galway, H54AO95

Four members of Feltmakers Ireland West will be vending on Saturday, the 6th, 10 AM – 4 PM.

Where: The Green Market, Unit 13 Cearnóg Nua, Killarainy, Moycullen, Co. Galway, H91 F1PY

Denise Egan and Caoimhe Tuthill will each be vending at the Séamus Ennis Art on Sunday, the 7th, from 10:30 AM to 4 PM

Where: The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Main St, Naul, Naul Village, Co. Dublin, K32 AY27, Ireland

Eva Salamon will be at The Hexmas Market on the 7th of December, Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM

Where: The Grand Social, 35 Liffey St. Lower, North City, D01 C3N0

Denise Egan will be at the Fitz of Inch Christmas Festival on the 13th and 14th of December

Where: Fitz of Inch, Inch House, Inch, Stradbally, Co Laois, R32 P382

Eva Salamon will be at Gauche Market, Sunday, the 14th of December, 12 to 8 PM

Where: Wigwam, 54 Middle Abbey St, North City, Dublin, D01 E2X4

Apologies if we missed your event. Please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com to be included in future Members’ Events posts.

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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Irish Wool Series on Nationwide – 3rd Programme – Member Karena Ryan Featured

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Karena Ryan during the filming at the Galway Wool Co-op’s Meitheal at Athenry, Co Galway

The third and final episode about Irish Wool is available on Nationwide via the RTÉ Player. Feltmakers Ireland guild member Karena Ryan is featured in the second section, just after the break.


Monday, 24th November: https://lnkd.in/eE-84Kce

Wednesday, 26th November: https://lnkd.in/eXJUYEJV

Friday, 28th November: https://lnkd.in/e2kZR5Uk

A piece by guild member @tamzenlundydesigns can be spotted in the section intro:


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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Upcoming Christmas Craft Fairs – Part 3

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

This is the third in our series on members who are participating in holiday craft fairs. Have a look, as Parts 1 and 2 list events happening this weekend.

Fiona Leech, Sandra Reynolds, and other members of Sow’s Ear Collective will be vending at the Bayside Community Centre on Sunday, the 30th of November, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Where: Bayside Community Centre, Bayside Blvd N, Sutton, Dublin, D13 DDF2

Emily Thompson and over 100 other vendors will be vending at the Irish Pop Up Collective event. Emily will be there on Sunday, the 7th of December.

Where: Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Rd, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 K063

Belinda Reid will be at the Kinvara Community Centre Christmas Fair on the 6th and 7th of December, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Where: Kinvara Community Centre, Glebe Road, Kinvara, Co Galway, H91 WC64

Caoimhe Tuthill will be vending at the National Botanic Gardens Sustainable Christmas Craft Market on the 13th and 14th of December.

Where: National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, D09 VY63


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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.