Feltmakers Ireland

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Feltmakers Ireland

Founded in 2003 in response to a growing interest in feltmaking, Feltmakers Ireland is a voluntary organisation with members from all over Ireland.

We welcome everyone with an interest in promoting and encouraging the craft of feltmaking

24/08/2026

Of Interest: Irish Business Design Challenge Competition - Design and Crafts Council of Ireland

The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland's 2026 Irish Business Design Challenge is now open for applications. ⁠
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Micro or small businesses that use design to create sustainable solutions are invited to apply to this DCCI competition. There are awards of up to €20,000 per business, amongst a total prize funding of €50,000.

The Irish Business Design Challenge is looking for businesses that have:

-Changed their business model to add value
-Repurposed or redesigned their products or services sustainably
-Developed new eco-friendly processes or partnerships
-Discovered new or more efficient ways of working
-Invented innovative and meaningful solutions
-Solved societal or environmental problems through sustainable design

Deadline: Monday, the 31st of August 2026⁠.

For more information and to apply, visit the DCCI website:
https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/dcci-awards/dcci-irish-business-design-challenge/dcci-design-business-challenge-about/

Design & Crafts Council Ireland

21/08/2026

Exhibition: Native Irish Fibres Material Library Exhibition - NCAD Library Micro Gallery

There is a 'Native Irish Fibres Material Library' exhibition at the micro gallery of the Edward Murphy Library of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

It is the work of three NCAD master's students in the Circular by Design programme, who researched and piloted an online toolkit, a materials library, and an awareness campaign to encourage designers to use more Irish-grown raw materials in their work. Their tutor, Maureen Laverty, and Fibreshed Ireland helped to guide them. Their project was the winner of the Dublin City Council's ENFUSE competition. A physical book version will be available soon.

Where: NCAD Library, National College of Art and Design, 100 Thomas St, Usher's Quay, Dublin 8, D08 K521

When: Runs until the 28th of August.

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20/08/2026

Of Interest: 450 km Wool March - from Texel NL to European PaOf Interest: 450 km Wool March - from Texel NL to European Parliament in Brussels

The walk starts on Saturday, the 22nd of August, in Texel, the Netherlands, and arrives in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday, the 13th of October 2026, for this ecological, cultural and social importance of this overlooked system".

To raise awareness for shepherds and sheep flocks, a group of advocates has organised a 53-day Wool March, from Texel in the Netherlands to the European Parliament in Brussels. The March will be rally style:

"No sheep or shepherd walk the entire route! We pass the hook from shepherd to shepherd, flock to flock creating a line of support for this ecological, cultural and social importance of this overlooked system".

The walk starts on Saturday, the 22nd of August in Texel, Netherlands and arrives in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, the 13th of October 2026.

For more information, visit the Wool March website: https://www.woolmarch.com/

19/08/2026

Education: 2 Online Courses via Apple Oak Fibre Works - Finding Joy in Botanical Dyeing and Cyanotype Photography & Natural Dyes

There are two upcoming textile courses via the Apple Oak Fibre Works Academy education platform that may be of interest:

- Finding Joy in Botanical Colours with Malú Colorín
- Cyanotype Photography & Natural Dyes with Ashleigh Ellis

Both courses are five weeks long, online, and include downloadable PDFs.

For more information, visit the Apple Oak Fibre Works website: https://appleoakfibreworks.com/collections/academy-courses

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18/08/2026

Exhibition: ArtWall Opening for Feltmakers Ireland at Leitrim Design House

Feltmakers Ireland invites friends, family, and fans to our upcoming group exhibition, 'Essence of Nature'. On Saturday, the 29th of August at midday, Councillor Sean McGowan will launch the show

Artworks by 36 of our guild members will be displayed on the ArtWall of The Leitrim Design House gallery, which is located in Carrick-on-Shannon.

The show runs from Wednesday, 26th August to Saturday, 3rd October 2026.

Where: The Leitrim Design House, The Dock Arts Centre, St George's Terrace, Townparks, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 T2X2

For more information and to view the online catalogue, visit the Leitrim Design House website: https://leitrimdesignhouse.ie/blogs/news/artwall-feltmakers-ireland-exhibition

17/08/2026

Recap: Experience the Joy of Felting – August Craft Month & Heritage Week in Inchicore, Dublin

Editor's Note: There are over 30 photos which we cannot fit here, so please visit the website - https://feltmakersireland.com/2026/08/17/recap-experience-the-joy-of-felting-august-craft-month-heritage-week-in-inchicore-dublin/

On Sunday, the 16th of August, 17 volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland gathered to teach two sessions of wet and needle felting to over 45 students. Our event was part of the annual August Craft Month and Heritage Week.

We had two educational sessions: a morning session from 10 AM to 12 PM and an afternoon session from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. Both were well attended, with students enjoying learning about the different methods of feltmaking.

Students created several types of felted flowers, three-dimensional sheep, and even trees! They had the opportunity to work with wet and needle felting techniques.

There was also a display area featuring Irish Wool and our ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ book. The vertical display panel was created by Annika Berglund during the research for the book.

Volunteers’ felt art was displayed on the stage at the front of the room. There were wearables, wall art, and sculptures!

Thank you to all of the students who shared their Sunday with us. We look forward to seeing some of you at future Sessions!

Many thanks to Siobhán Ryan for chairing this event, and to all the volunteers who helped with the day: Adrienne, Ananya, Christine, Clodagh, Elizabeth, Eva, Helena, Hilary, Irina, Juliane, Lauren, Linda, Loli, Lorna, Margaret C, and Margaret R C.

Additionally, we would like to thank the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland‘s August Craft Month and Heritage Week for sharing our event so wonderfully. We had an excellent turnout this year!

Both organisations have other exciting events happening.

August Craft Month runs through the end of the month.
Heritage Week runs until the 23rd of August.
Many thanks to our members, who comprise Feltmakers Ireland West, for hosting a ‘Felting Fun Day’ on Saturday, the 15th, in Boyle, Co Roscommon as part of August Craft Month.

Lastly, we want to thank the CIE Sports Hall / Social Club in Inchicore, Dublin, for allowing us to rent storage space and use the hall for our meetings and sessions.

Our next regular Sunday Session will be on the 20th of September. It will feature Eva Salamon, who will teach us how to make needle felted owls. Members will receive more information shortly.

14/08/2026

Of Interest: Dublin Maker Open Call for Fashion Show

This year, Dublin Maker will have an Open Fashion Show. Whether you’ve crafted an elaborate outfit or made a cute patch on your jeans, you are invited to enter.

On the day, fill out a card with some information about your make. The cards will be given to the emcee, who will call designers/makers up one by one.

There will be four slots:

Saturday, the 22nd of August at 12:45 and 14:45, and
Sunday, the 23rd of August at 11:15 and 14:30

Sign up for whichever ones work best for you. Please arrive a few minutes early to fill out your card if you are entering.

Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Foxrock, Dublin 18, D18 C9V6

If you’re not ready to participate, come along to support the makers and get inspired for next year!

Sign up in advance with Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/open-fashion-show-dublin-maker-tickets-1996822790720

The event will be accessible to people with limited mobility, but if you have questions, you can also check the Dublin Maker's Accessibility Guide: https://dublinmaker.ie/accessibility-at-dublin-maker-festival/

Or reach out on their contact page: https://dublinmaker.ie/contact/

For more information or to reserve your free tickets, visit the Dublin Maker website: https://dublinmaker.ie/

13/08/2026

Of Interest: Flax Meitheal Harvest Celebration - Co Tyrone

Tickets are now available for the annual Flax Meitheal Harvest Celebration, on the weekend of 22rd-23st of August.

Fibreshed Ireland is once again partnering with Mallon Linen, Linen Workers CIC, and PlayThinkBrink to bring a weekend of presentations, panel discussions, craft demonstrations, a farm visit, music, and poetry.

Come learn about the history of linen production on this island, the present solutions & challenges, and help shape a regenerative, equitable and joyful flaxen future!

The event format combines a conference, a workshop, and a flax-harvesting party.

The first day in An Creagán will be more conference-style, with presentations and workshops throughout the day. It will finish with an evening of music, poetry, crafting, and craic. The second day in Mallon Linen will be a working day of harvesting flax.

When: the 22nd - 23rd of August

Where: An Creagán, 186 Barony Rd, Omagh, Co.Tyrone, BT79 9AB, Northern Ireland, UK

Mallon Linen Farm, 105 Pomeroy Rd, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, BT80 9EY, Northern Ireland, UK

For more information, visit Fibreshed Ireland's website: https://fibreshedireland.ie/the-flax-meitheal-harvest-celebration-2026

12/08/2026

Of Interest: Shaking Bog Festival 2026 - Co Wicklow

The Shaking Bog Festival returns to the Glencree Valley, County Wicklow, with a programme of writers, artists, dancers, musicians, and nature experts for an event packed with creative engagement and immersive outdoor experience, designed to offer a sense of hope by connecting people more deeply with each other and with the natural world around them.

Reflecting on the traditions of the ancient Irish Bilberry Festival that marks the beginning of the Lughnasa harvest, this year’s Shaking Bog Festival is about gathering - gathering together to celebrate this shared heritage and, as always, our true connection to the natural world.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Sharon Wells, who, with Caroline Byrne, is part of Black Sheep, will be part of an Open Day sharing about Irish Wool on Saturday, the 22nd, as part of the Festival. Exploring the craft of woolmaking, from sheep farming through to the skills of knitting and felting, this event will lead people deep into a creative engagement with land, heritage, art, and nature.

NOTE: This particular event is sold out, but there are tickets available for other events.

When: The Festival runs from Friday, the 21st through Sunday, the 23rd of August

For more information, visit their website: https://www.shakingbog.ie/

11/08/2026

Recap: Feltmakers Ireland at Tullamore Show 2026

By Siobhán Ryan

Sunday, the 9th of August, and the sun was shining at the annual Tullamore Agricultural Show in Co Offaly! It was an early start for Elizabeth, Clodagh, Siobhán, Linda, Mary O, and Mary G, who represented the Feltmakers Ireland Guild at the Crafts area.

A record 70,000 people attended the show, and many dropped by to chat and watch the wet felting and needle-felting demonstrations. It is encouraging to see the level of interest in the craft, as evidenced by conversations and the many enquiries to join our guild.

Member Linda Costello joined Feltmakers Ireland in 2025 and has become a regular attendee since we established Feltmakers Ireland West, which meets monthly in Co Galway. Linda was delighted to win first prize with her entry ‘4 sods hard won turf’ and second prize for her ‘Contemporary Summer Garden’, both in the Horticulture section. She was also awarded a Best in Show certificate. Well done, Linda!!

As we promote Irish wool, it was lovely to see the different breeds of sheep and the alpacas, all looking so well-tended and plentiful. Speaking with breeders, we learned that they are encouraged by this year's increase in Irish wool prices; it is good news for everyone.

It was a very positive day at the Tullamore Show, and Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to be invited to return for a 5th year in a row in 2027.

There are a few more photos of sheep and alpaca over on the blog: https://feltmakersireland.com/2026/08/11/recap-feltmakers-ireland-at-tullamore-show-2026/

Linda Costello -

Address

Library Square, Inchicore,
Dublin
8

Website

http://www.feltmakersireland.com/

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