Handiwork: An up-and-coming interiors hub in Cork has beautifully crafted products

A trip to an up-and-coming interiors hub in the Cork suburbs revealed an exciting retail outlet with unique and beautifully crafted products, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

The near hidden enclave of St Patrick’s Woollen Mills in Cork’s Douglas suburb has been developing in recent years, into a destination for home interior shoppers, with a selection of retailers selling everything from fabrics and picture framing, to rugs and chic French furniture and accessories.

A relative newcomer is Cork Craft & Design, which relocated there nearly 18 months ago, providing a destination shop for the sale and promotion of crafted products designed and made in Cork.

Popping by to visit on one of the hottest days this year, the calm of the shop with its double height ceiling and whitewashed walls with artfully displayed products, is a welcome reprieve from the blistering heat and noise of driving with all the windows down.

Heading up the day-to-day running of the shop is Maeve Murphy, who took over as operations manager just three months ago but, it turns out, is far from being a shop keeper. Her role has a wide remit as she’s also responsible for organising the annual Cork Craft Month which is headquartered at the shop.

The ninth edition kicks off in early August with a programme of exhibitions and interactive craft events around the city and county. For the remainder of the year, the shop keeps the momentum of promoting craft going, and it’s where the 100-strong membership of the Cork Craft & Design cooperative bring their products to sell throughout the year.

Mairi Stone’s porcelain lamps and dishes at the Cork Craft & Design shop, St Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Douglas, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

“At the moment, 38 of the makers have their work for sale in the shop,” says Maeve. “This is reviewed monthly so new products come in and existing products are moved around so it’s always fresh.”

Wood turner Tony Farrell has just sold a beautiful table which sits in poll position opposite the front door, and Maeve is already putting out the call to other makers to see what they might have, to fill the gap it will create once the new owner takes it home.

Tony is active in the shop today, volunteering to help run it, as do other members, and providing an opportunity for the craft buying public to meet the makers and be guided by their expert eye in what they ought to buy. Tony is an established maker of reputation, so it’s intriguing to learn that just the previous week, a new graduate, hot off the furniture design course at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, and a new member of the cooperative, brought in his first piece — a lamp — to the shop and it sold the same day.

The lucky maker is Paul Hickey who has also produced a wine rack of a visually arresting design, tantamount to a piece of occasional furniture.

Siobhain Steele’s ceramics. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Another to watch out for, while browsing the eclectically stylish display shelves and cabinets, is Maura Whelan, whose glass work is fashioned into wall light shades, inspired by seascapes around County Cork.

They’re beautifully illuminated today, not only to show them off at their best, but serving a practical function by decorating the shop wall lights. Pricewise, expect to pay from €2.50 up to €2,500 across wood turning, ceramics, textiles, glass, jewellery and printing.

The whole set up is a long way away from the traditional Irish gift shop, testified to by the visit of an American tourist. She wanted to take something back to the US that was made in Cork. An Irish friend brought her to Cork Craft & Design rather than a geansaí and shillelagh shop.

It’s also an indication of how much more design savvy we’ve become, and our growing appreciation and discernment when it comes to crafted design, although it can also be the slow food equivalent of home interiors, with customers taking their time.

Helen O'Leary of Haven Yarns' tea cosies. Picture: Denis Minihane.

“Sometimes people will send me a photo of a piece they saw a few years ago and they’re now looking for it,” Maeve says.

Thanks to the individuality of crafted pieces, it’s not too difficult a task to figure out the maker. For the opportunist shopper, there’s free parking right outside, and next door is On The Pig’s Back Café and Deli for a pit-stop. While in there, you’ll see some of the products sold in Cork Craft and Design in the form of a living exhibition.

See if you can spot Paul Hickey’s snazzy wine racks being put to good use, and much else besides.

www.corkcraftanddesign.irish