Poster from the exhibitionKarena with some of her work
Feltmakers Ireland guild member Karena Ryan has a solo exhibition, ‘Inherited Threads’, at The Leitrim Design House.
Karena’s collection of textile work interlaces together ancestry, memory, and the quiet connections that bind us to the land and to one another. Rooted in stories passed down through generations, her pieces reimagine fragments of the past through fibre, stitch, and texture, serving as acts of remembrance held within cloth.
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Caitríona Nolan‘s hand-felted and needle-felted piece will be on display at Esker Arts Centre, with the official opening this Saturday, 15th November. Curated by Geraldine Ó Reilly, artist/painter.
Elaine Peden will be part of Moving Signatures, a unique intergenerational dance performance in response to the IMMA‘s Permanent Collection exhibition. Meeting point, main reception.
When: Sunday, the 16th of November, with performances at 12:15, 1, and 1:45 PM.
If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and have upcoming craft fairs, exhibitions or events, please get in contact with us at feltmakersie@gmail.com
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Guild member Dr Niki Collier has a solo exhibition at Portumna Castle. It combines felt art, installation, dance, and participatory engagements, which are captured through film and photography.
The exhibition ‘Symbols of Mobility’ uses bird lore in legends, proverbs, and intangible cultural traditions to explore the hard truths about ourselves and others.
The audience will get the chance to see seven stories: The Phoenix, The Children of Lir, The Black Swan, The Cutest Chick, The Stork, The Legend of Óengus and Caer, and The Blue Bird of Happiness. These pieces are embodied in large-scale sculptures informed by wings and small sculptures informed by shapes of sorrow and joy. The work also includes installations, photography, and film.
Parts of the work have been produced with the generous support of the Office of Public Works, Arts Council of Ireland, Creative Ireland, and the Dublin Arts Office.
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Dublin is buzzing with creativity this week as two milestone exhibitions open, each celebrating decades of artistry and community.
Sculpture in Context – 40th Anniversary Show at the National Botanic Gardens
One of Ireland’s most beloved annual art events, Sculpture in Context, has returned after a hiatus to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin for its 40th year. The exhibition transforms the gardens into an open-air gallery, with sculptures of every scale and style nestled among the trees, glasshouses, and landscaped grounds. Visitors can expect a vibrant mix of work from established and emerging artists, with pieces that playfully interact with their natural surroundings.
Three of Feltmakers Ireland’s members have pieces in the show: Ramona Farrelly, Juliane Gorman, and Fiona Leech.
When: Thursday, the 4th of September to Friday, the 10th of October.
Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers – 50th Anniversary Show at the Lexicon Library
Meanwhile, in Dun Laoghaire, the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers (IGWSD) is marking its 50th anniversary with a special exhibition at the dlr Lexicon Library. Showcasing the craft traditions of weaving, spinning, and dyeing, the exhibition highlights both heritage techniques and contemporary textile art.
Visitors will see a rich variety of textures and colours—handwoven fabrics, intricate patterns, and natural dyes that speak to the Guild’s commitment to preserving and evolving Ireland’s textile heritage.
Two of Feltmakers Ireland members have work in the show: Juliane Gorman and Sharon Wells.
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Every year, the Olivier Cornet Gallery invites an artist to reflect on one of their works in the context of the theme chosen by the National Heritage Week organisation. The theme this year is about “Exploring Our Foundations”, so they have asked David Fox to consider his painting ‘The Ridge of Capard’.
The discussion will take place on Thursday, the 21st of August 2025, at 6:30 PM.
David Fox will be joined by some of the artists whose work features in our current group show, ‘Out of Lines’. They will also say a few words about their work. The artists confirmed so far are Annika Berglund, Hugh Cummins, Colin Eaton, Nickie Hayden, Miriam McConnon, Yanny Petters and Vicky Smith.
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Louth Craftmark is a group of makers and visual artists based in the North East of Ireland.
They currently have three exhibitions of ‘Reveal Conceal’ which span across three venues,
The Leitrim Design House, Carrick-on-Shannon, from 24th May to 6th July,
The Marketplace Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh, 16th May – 5th July, and
The Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh, 15th July to 15th August 2025.
While the artists’ pieces are not identical across all three venues, they are from the same collections of work in response to the theme of this show. The artists have come together across a range of disciplines to create a new body of work that explores the ‘inside out of things’.
Feltmakers Ireland member Mel Bradley‘s work is included at The Marketplace Theatre & Arts Centre.
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Guild member Annika Berglund has a solo art exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden.
It will be her first time showing work in Sweden, and she hopes to make connections with Swedish artists and feltmakers. She will be in the gallery throughout the exhibition and hopes to meet those who can attend.
When: the 26th of June to the 6th of July.
Where: Blick Galleri, Hornsgatan 32, Stockholm, Sweden
Several of her pieces are also on display at the Olivier Cornet Gallery’s group exhibition, ‘Out of Lines’, in Dublin, Ireland.
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Art Exhibition by Students at the Liberties College
The Hedera Collective, made up of students at Liberties College, will have a two-day art exhibition, ‘RECREA’, of their work, including textiles, ceramics, and glass.
Feltmakers Ireland guild member Sam (Samantha) Fagan is among the students.
To see behind-the-scenes preparations, visit Hedera Collective’s Instagram: @hedera_artcollective
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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.
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First Lady Sabina Higgins looking at Claire Merry’s ‘Hares in the Meadow’
Dublin, Ireland: Over 400 attendees gathered at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre for the opening of ‘Symbols of Ireland’, a stunning exhibition from Feltmakers Ireland.
First Lady Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D Higgins, officially opened the event with an inspiring address, marking a celebration of Irish craftsmanship and sustainability.
The exhibition featured the work of 47 guild members, showcasing many pieces crafted from Irish-raised wool fibre.
Mrs Higgins expressed her awe in her speech, saying, “I’m overwhelmed. I really haven’t seen a felt exhibition before… I have seen individual pieces in craft shops, but I haven’t ever seen anything like THIS! The innovation of the felt, how it is made from the start, is incredible.”
She went on to recommend transferring the exhibition to the National Gallery of Ireland, underscoring its cultural importance.
As Patron of the Wool in Schools Program, Mrs Higgins highlighted wool’s role as a sustainable material, noting its durability and self-cleaning properties. She also connected the exhibition’s themes to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, calling them “the 10 Commandments of our times.” To learn more about the Goals, visit here – https://sdgs.un.org/goals
‘Symbols of Ireland’ was open to the public at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre until the 30th of March, 2025. Visiting hours were 10 AM to 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday, with free admission.
The Exhibition
Entering the Exhibition
Sabina Higgins and Loli Cox viewing Amanda Robinson Kelly’s artwork
Loli and our chairperson, Deirdre Carroll
The Committee. Left to right, Juliane Gorman, Deirdre Carroll, First Lady Sabina Higgins, Suzanne, Phelan, Lorna Cady (in front row), Annika Berglund in back row, Loli Cox, Adrienne Dempsey, and Elizabeth Redding. (Sam Fagan missing from photo)
Mrs Higgins talking with Lorna McCormack, head of Wool in Schools. Arwork by Heather Byrne
Mrs Higgins and Loli viewing Annika Berglund and Sandra Chase’s artwork
If you are unable to come to Dublin, we have an online version of the exhibition via our catalogue – Catalogue- Symbols of Ireland
The Poster
The exhibition ran from Wednesday, the 5th of March, to Sunday, the 30th of March 30th, 2025, at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery. Please note: the Centre is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The artwork featured on the exhibition poster is ‘Brigid’s Legacy’ by Jane Fox.
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The Poster for Feltmakers Ireland’s group exhibition in March.
Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to present ‘Symbols of Ireland’, a group exhibition celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage through the art of felt. Sabina Higgins will officially launch* the exhibition on Sunday, the 2nd of March, at 3 PM.
This showcase explores Ireland’s iconic imagery and deep-rooted traditions through the versatile medium of wool—ranging from imported Merino fibre to locally raised Irish wool. Featuring an array of techniques, including wet felting and needle felting, members of Feltmakers Ireland have created striking three-dimensional sculptures, wall art, and wearable pieces, each offering a unique interpretation of Irish symbolism.
The exhibition runs from Wednesday, the 5th of March, to Sunday, the 30th of March 30th, 2025, at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery. Please note: the Centre is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. (This may change if there is an increase in staffing. We will know more by the middle of the month).
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.
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