Designer Dublin Dawns In the Capital

Designer Dublin, which takes place in over thirty venues around the capital for the month of June, started with a series of craft demonstrations in the capital on Wednesday June 1st.

The Designer Dublin initiative is a unique collaboration between the region’s creative sector, the Dublin County and City Enterprise Boards, Dublin City Council, CreativeD and the Craft Council of Ireland, marking 2011 as Year of Craft.

Senator David Norris (pictured here with Greg Swift CEO of Dublin City Enterprise Board) and Stylist, Sonya Lennon, were the keynote speakers at the first Designer Dublin event, which was hosted by the Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street.

Five designers and makers demonstrated their craft at the Kilkenny Shop event, including Colm De Ris (Pottery), Klickity Design (Light Shades), Alan Kenny (Artist), Laura Cassidy (Hats and Fascinators) and Maureen Lynch (Jewellery).

Co-ordinated by the Dublin City Enterprise Board, the calendar of events on www.designerdublin.ie includes a craft directory ‘Give Craft’, talks, workshops and demonstrations for the public. One of the expected highlights will be the evening Craft Studio Trail on June 10th. Most of the twenty-one design and craft studios on the trail, which are opening their doors to the public from 5pm to 8pm that evening, will be offering once-off discounts for the evening and a prize fund worth over  €1,500.

Another highlight is expected to be the ‘Learn How to Accessorize’ talk by Irish stylist, Clare Devereux, which takes place at the National College of Ireland on June 20th. Devereux works as a stylist on ITV and previously for E! Entertainment, NBC and MTV. She has also styled for a variety of high profile red carpet events, such as the Oscars, the BAFTAs and the MTV Music Awards.  

Eibhlin Curley, Assistant CEO with the Dublin City Enterprise Board, is one of the main organisers behind Designer Dublin.  She explained: “This is one of the biggest collaborative initiatives for Dublin’s craft sector, with the aim of showcasing our talented designers and makers. Throughout the month of June, we’re encouraging members of the public, and visitors to Dublin, to take part in any of the Designer Dublin events and to support our indigenous craft sector.”

Sonya Lennon’s visual poem, ‘Dais’, is being screened until June 14th at the European Union House on Dawson Street, alongside a photographic exhibition from five designers and makers involved in the Craft Studio Trail.

The full programme of events for Designer Dublin is available at www.designerdublin.ie, along with a map of the locations for the Craft Studio Trail on June 10th.  

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