Local craftworkers look to grow home market

A NEW initiative by the Design & Craft Council may help West Kerry craft makers to develop a new domestic market for their products, which they will need to do to keep their businesses afloat while coronavirus travel restrictions are in place.

West Kerry is the home to many of Ireland’s finest craft workers and the sector has grown to become a major source of employment for people ranging from home-based producers to internationally recognised workshops.

However, well over half of the craftwork produced in West Kerry is bought by foreign visitors and this marked has now evaporated because of coronavirus travel restrictions.

To make up for this loss local craft workers need to focus on selling to Irish holiday-makers and the Design & Craft Council marketing initiative aims to help promote sales in this area.

“Business is down by two thirds this year because most of our customers come from North America, but people from Ireland have kept the shop busy,” said Aileen Ní Shé, Manager of the Original Kerry shop on Green Street which stocks produce from 40 Kerry-based craft workers.

It is hoped that the ‘Made Local’ initiative by the Design & Crafts Council will help grow this Irish market, which has now become vital to craft workers. The ‘Made Local’ campaign will run throughout the summer and involves 100 shops nationwide displaying the ‘Made Local’ symbol on Irish-made crafts and design work.

Castlegregory craftworker Colleen Bowler and Brian McGee of the Design & Crafts Council launching the ‘Made Local’ campaign in the Original Kerry shop on Green Street.