CRAFTS C O U N C OF IRELAND Royal Dublin Society Ball's Bridge Dublin 4 Ireland telephone 6 8 0 6 4 5

I n f o r m a t i o n

WHY?

The Crafts Council of Ireland was established last October by 24 organisations concerned w i th the economic, cultural and social aspects of handcraft. By coming together and forming a common agreed policy for the development of handcraft in Ireland, these organisations fel t that the efforts of each one of them wou ld be rendered more effective. They also fel t that there was a manifest need for co-ordination and exchange of informat ion between all concerned w i th the promot ion and development of handcraft in this country .

WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO?

The objectives and aims of the Council as set out in its Const i tut ion are:

a) to foster and develop crafts in Ireland

b) co-ordinate organisations concerned w i th crafts in pursuit of mutual ly agreed policies

c) provide a fo rum where matters of importance concerning craftsmen and crafts may be discussed.

d) assist Government in the development of policies related to crafts

e) encourage the development of facil i t ies for the education and training of craftsmen

f) raise standards of craftsman­ship and the status of the craftsman

g) provide an in format ion and advisory service for craftsmen and assist the commercial development of crafts

h) organise exhibi t ions

i) support exhibi t ions and other activit ies of member organisations

j) undertake such other activities as may be in accord w i th the objectives of the Crafts Council of Ireland, including the receiving of grants, donations, presentat­ions and such like

The Council believes that the two most important questions facing it are those concerned w i t h the development of education and training facil i t ies and the product­ion of an overall long term plan for handcraft in Ireland. The Executive Commit tee has been concentrating on these t w o aspects since its fo rmat ion and has been gathering the necessary data f rom members on which these policies can be based.

CRAFT SURVEY

The Executive Commit tee wishes to thank the member organisations who supplied data in response to their general enquiry regarding the priorit ies of member organisations. This informat ion has been most valuable to the Executive in determining its own priorit ies.

Another survey, the results of which are eagerly awaited, is that being carried out by the Irish National Product iv i ty Commit tee on handcrafts in the Western Region. This report has been commissioned by the Central Development Commit tee and wi l l certainly provide many valuable directional pointers to the Council .

CRAFT CONGRESS IN GALWAY

The f irst Congress and Annual General Meeting of the Crafts Council of Ireland w i l l be held in Galway on the 29th and 30th of September. The Congress, which is being organised in col laboration w i th the Western Development Au tho r i t y , w i l l concentrate on the problems of developing handcrafts, part icularly in the western counties. A n y individual interested in handcraft may attend the Congress

/.details of the programme wi l l sent to member societies at a

ater date.

It is hoped that as many as possible of the participants in the Greystones meeting of 1970 wi l l be able to attend this Congress and General Meeting as this w i l l provide a*meeting place for those really interested in formulat ing and implementing the policies of the Crafts Council of Ireland.

SOUTH EAST REGION CRAFT EXHIBITION

This Exhibi t ion of regional crafts was held in Tramore, Co. Waterford f rom Wednesday, July 12 to Sunday, July 16. The exhibitors, f rom counties Carlow, Ki lkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, were home craftworkers, tradit ional and workshop craftsmen, small craft industries and co-operatives. There was a special loan exhibit­ions of crafts not included in the scheduled categories. A variety of regional crafts were demonstrated.

The specific purpose of the exhib i t ion was to promote the product ion and marketing of crafts in the south east region, and their organised development w i t h particular reference to those crafts based on the region's raw materials and its tradit ions of urban and rural craftsmanship.

The exhib i t ion, initiated by Country Markets, forms part of the Royal Dubl in Society's Craftsmanship Scheme 1972. It was organised by a regional committee representative of the South East Regional Development and Tourism Organisations, the region's f ive county Federation of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Waterford County Committee of Vocational Education, Tramore Failte, and Waterford Country Market. The exhib i t ion was opened by Mr James J. Bowe, Chairman of the South East Regional Development Organisation Au tho r i t y .

EDUCATION

The Executive Commit tee has been in contact w i t h the Depart­ment of Education on the matter of providing training for craftsmen in the short-term and has sent a memorandum to the Department setting out the Council 's views. It is hoped that some of the more pressing and immediate problems in this area may be solved in the near future.

WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL IN ISTANBUL

The General Assembly of the World Crafts Counci l w i l l take place in Istanbul, Turkey f rom 21 st to the 25th August 1972. Eash country is invited to send up to 10 off ic ial delegates to attend the General Assembly meeting to be held at the Tarabya Hotel and the related evening funct ions. Besides these ten, any number of other members and their families may like to take the oppor tun i t y to visit Turkey, see its crafts and craftsmen and jo in in the 'open' discussions. There are such events as a state reception, a T u r k i s h barbecue' and several planned craft tours, besides the concluding plenary session of the General Assembly on August 5.

The Brit ish Section is current ly making arrangements for a special economy tour at an approximate cost of (8 days) £65 or (14 days) £82. Should any Irish delegates wish to attend the General Assembly it might be possible to arrange to jo in the British section. However, if suff icient Irish craftsmen intimated their intent ion of attending, a special charter f l ight might be arranged through Aer Lingus. Early not i f icat ion should be made to the Hon. Secretary, Crafts Council of Ireland, C/o. Royal Dubl in Society, Dubl in 4.

THE FEDERATION OF MAYO CRAFTS

Over a year in existence this is a loosely kn i t federation of some twenty groups w i t h i n the county.

The groups meet in Castlebar about every two months and discuss common problems, e.g. teachers, qual i ty contro l and markets. Last year the federation actively cooperated w i th the Mayo Communi ty Counci l in mount ing exhibi t ions in Castlebar and Claremorris and enlivened the proceedings w i th two highly commended fashion shows of lace and crochet work . Further, it assisted the I.N.P.C. in its survey of the posit ion of crafts in Mayo and it awaits the result of this survey before embarking on a mail order scheme for wor ld wide d is t r ibut ion.

MAYO HANDCRAFTS -BALLYHAUNIS

One of the pioneer organisations w i th in the country in popularis­ing Irish lace and crochet work w i t h its varied mot i fs, Mayo Handcrafts is taking its place among the leaders in this highly skilled craft. Wi th a small bout ique in Abbey Street it works on two levels and caters for the ordinary tourist w i t h the usual high class lines in lace, wool and crochet, whi le at the same t ime much thought and ef for t has gone into breaking into the haute couture market. A measure of encouragement is seen in the order f r om Australia of a crochet table­c loth w i t h an escallop mot i f . The table c lo th , which is 7yds x 3 yds wi l l take about a year to complete.

These projects are a great source of supplementary income to the many small farm holders in the locality and many workers have used their earnings on such things as deep-freezers or tr ips to their relatives in the U.S.A.

As a gesture of appreciation for service to the communi ty the local Junior Chamber conferred a signal honour on the organiser of Mayo Handcrafts, Mrs Cribben, by awarding her a plaque and t rophy and naming her as citizen of the year.

JNING WHEELS

Me have been asked to supply the names of makers and suppliers of spinning wheels:

Ashtonwood Products, Ardnathrush, Glengariff, Co. Cork. Arran type wheels

£29.25p. , plus carriage

Island type wheels £38.00 plus carriage

Half-size spinning wheels £ l 3 . 8 5 p . plus carriage

James Shiels & Sons, Bridge Street, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal

Spinning wheels in Redwood £15.00

Spinning wheels in Oak/Mahogany £17.00

Spinning wheels in Teak £20.00

Mr Terry Coakley, Tully, Renvyle, Galway

No prices stated

MATERIAL FOR CRAFTSMEN

Potters clay — Dungannon clay:

Heiton & McFerran, Tara Street, Dubl in

Clay and glazes:

Wengers L imi ted, Eturia, Stoke-on-Trent

Messrs Padmore, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent

Warp string:

Irish Ropes, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Linen Thread Company, Hilden House, Parry Street, London SW8

Metal — Copper:

Gunning & Co., Rath Row, Dubl in

Sheet metal: Dockrell & Co., Sheet Metal Work Ship Street, Dubl in 8

Silver:

Johnston Malhey & Co., 93 Hatton Gardens, London EC 1

Wood:

Factors Saw Mil ls, Great Strand Street, Dubl in

ADMINISTRATION

The Crafts Counci l of Ireland is temporar i ly headquartered at the Royal Dubl in Society thanks to the generosity of the R.D.S.

Mr Desmond Clarke is acting Hon. Secretary and his staff are providing secretarial facil it ies. However, the Counci l realises that this cannot be a permanent arrange­ment, and it is our intent ion to establish as soon as possible a permanent secretariat for the Council which wi l l have the responsibil i ty of fo l lowing through on the agreed programme.

NOTICES TO SECRETARIES OF MEMBER ORGANISATIONS

Secretaries of member organisations are requested to let the Secretary of the Counci l have details of any funct ions or notices which they wish to have inserted in future issues of the NEWSLETTER.

COUNCIL

The present members of the Council are:

Ulster College The Northern Ireland Polytechnic: Mr James Warwick*

World Crafts Council — Irish Section: Mr Frank Su t t on *

Royal Dubl in Society: Mr Desmond Clarke*

Coras Trachtala: Mr Paul P. Hogan*

Bord Failte Eireann: Mr Brian Deane*

National Development Association: Mr Vivian Murray*

Irish Countrywomen's Association: Miss S. Findlater

Shannon Free A i rpo r t Development Co. L td . : Mr E. A . Mi l ton

Shannon Free A i rpo r t — Bunrat ty Handcrafts: Mr Kevin McEnnis

Galway County Development Team: Mr Aust in A . Sharkey*

Country Workers L td . : Miss A . Keogh

Industrial Development Au thor i t y : Mr Desmond F i tzpat r ick*

St. Catherine's College, Sion Hi l l : Sr. Helen McGing

Monaghan County Development Team: Mr T . A. Golden

Country Markets L td . : Miss Muriel Gahan*

Ki lkenny Design Workshops Ltd. : Mr James K ing*

National College of A r t : Miss Lucie Charles

Irish Society for Design and Craf twork: Mr Peter Brennan*

Gaeltarra Eireann: Mr K. Lannan

Western Joint Handcraft: Mr T. Smyth

Cloonfad Handcraft L td . : Rev. Father J. Canney

Mayo Handcraft Co-Operative: Mrs M. Cribben

Slieve Bawn Co-Operative Society L td . : Mrs P. Duignan*

* Member of Executive Committee.

Produced by the Crafts Council of Ireland Royal Dublin Society Ball's Bridge Dublin 4