Kilkenny has long had the reputation for being a centre of creativity, and the MADE in Kilkenny collective has actively contributed to this perception over the last decade. The group has striven to bring together the considerable wealth of craft talent found in Kilkenny to a wider audience and to foster excellence in craftsmanship.

The Castle Yard boasts an extraordinary group of creators, each bringing unique skills and passion to their craft. Denise O’Connell, a clinical aromatherapist, creates luxurious skincare products under the brand My Skin Integrity. Master silversmith Des Byrne has been crafting timeless pieces here since 1968, embodying the tradition of Kilkenny’s craft movement.

You’ll also meet Ray Power, a potter working at Castle Arts Pottery, and Rosemary Ryan of Rambling Rose Eclectic, whose designs are deeply rooted in industrial and handmade traditions. From Tammy’s Patrick Joseph Studio to Neil Kelly at JMC Goldsmiths, each artisan adds their own flair to Kilkenny’s creative scene.

The opening of the Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW) in 1963, established Kilkenny as the national home of design excellence in Ireland. The KDW, located in the stable yard opposite Kilkenny Castle, was the genesis of Kilkenny’s vibrant community of internationally acclaimed designer-makers.

Today in Kilkenny, you’ll find a host of international creative businesses, centres of craft and design excellence, the headquarters of the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), and the National Design & Craft Gallery opened as Ireland’s leading centre for contemporary craft and design in 2011.

Local designer-makers have established MADE in Kilkenny as a multidisciplinary craft group, organised and run by its members. On its website madeinkilkenny.ie, you’ll find a great online resource for authentic Kilkenny craft and design, along with suggestions for workshop/studio details and visits throughout the county.