Crafty idea sees Rona showcase new talent

Lifestyle – Judy Murphy meets the woman behind one of Galway’s most eclectic and innovative shops

I’m always blown away by people’s creativity, by what they come up with,” says Rona O’Reilly, owner of the Aladdin’s Cave that is ‘My Shop . . . granny likes it’.

This craft shop in the centre of Galway City, which recently celebrated its first birthday, offers a terrific selection of usual and unusual Irish crafts despite its tiny size. The eclectic array of goods – many of them made in Galway – is a tribute to Rona’s own creativity and her organisational skills.

She graduated from the GMIT in Galway with a Masters in art in 2006. But even while studying art, first in Belfast and later in the GMIT, Rona knew she wasn’t cut out to be a ‘maker’. Her talents lay elsewhere.

“I’ve always known I would be there working with artists, putting work together and getting it out there,” she explains. “I don’t have the discipline to stick with making it.”

Getting work out there is what she has done with ‘My Shop . . . granny likes it’ in Upper Abbeygate Street.

It showcases work from some 80 of Ireland’s most talented designers and makers, including skincare, jewellery, textiles, paintings, prints, photos, ceramics, clothes, woodcraft, buttons and more.

Rona’s background provided her with an ideal foundation for this venture. Originally from Dublin, she grew up in Mayo where her family were involved in creative life – her mother is a weaver and her father was a photographer. Rona’s mother, Corry, is also one half of Westport’s award-winning O’Reilly Turpin craft shop, which was established over two decades ago.

Rona inherited her love of art and her eye for design from her parents, as well as her ability to co-ordinate projects and run a business.

She was reared in the craft business; buying, selling and attending trade fairs. That background, coupled with her outgoing personality, makes her ideal for dealing with both designers and the public.

“I love new faces, new work, new conversations and problem-solving,” she explains. “I like chatting with people and hearing their stories.”

She extends that sociability to customers and suppliers, and it’s paying off.

“We have a strong base of local people buying gifts and having conversations via Facebook,” she says.

Rona buzzes with enthusiasm as she explains that her aim is to offer customers a varied selection of quality work with a broad price range. Too often, craft work is synonymous with high cost but as this shop proves, it doesn’t have to be.

In college, Rona knew she wanted to run exhibitions and to work with crafts people, so after finishing in GMIT, she opened a gallery in Barna. That was at the height of the recession and she had to close eventually, but it taught her a lot, she says.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.