Crafty idea turns An Ceardlann into a hub of creativity

Lifestyle –  Judy Murphy visits An Ceardlann, the craft and design centre which is thriving on 30 years of success

It’s a picture perfect summer’s day in the seaside village of Spiddal and Sue Donnellan is taking advantage of the fine weather to sit outside her shop as she puts the finishing touches to a set of glass table coasters.

Deep red in colour, shot through with greys, these are among the many colourful glass items made by Sue in her design shop in the Spiddal Craft Centre, or An Ceardlann, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

From earrings to watches to table lamps, there is a vast array of crafts in Sue’s shop – she is always making new things, she explains. “Even in my dreams, I’m creating.”

In the shop beside her, Ciarán Hogan is sitting on a low stool weaving baskets made from willow.  His handmade bread baskets, shopping baskets, turf baskets and more are displayed in his shop, while in buildings further along, artist Ger O’Rourke creates mixed-media paintings, ceramic jewellery and a range of cards, and at her loom, Máire Ní Thaidhg weaves  scarves, wraps, throws, and, more recently, rugs from beautifully dyed natural wools and linens.

Add in potter Rob D’Eath,  as well as a vintage shop, a photography studio, an Irish language sweatshirt and t-shirt business, a jeweller specialising in old Irish coins, and Spiddal’s Ceardlann is a creative and social hub unique in Galway. There’s also an award-winning restaurant, An Builín Blasta which is run by Jamie Peaker and serves some of the best food to be found anywhere in Galway.

In the 30 years since it was established, the Ceardlann has been home to many crafts people and just three of the original residents– potter Rob D’Eath, weaver Máire Ní Thaidhg and Gearóid Ó Murchú of An Spailpín Fánach screen printing – have been there for all three decades.

Sue Donnellan, who is originally from Dublin, although of Galway origins, is one of the more recent arrivals, having changed careers to move west and pursue her love of stained glass.

“I was always dabbling in art, and did oil paintings when I was younger. But I had a job for 20 odd years in Dublin and then decided to give it up,” she says.

Sue had initially visited Spiddal for a holiday, renting a cottage in the village. She knew of the craft village because of her Galway connections and she decided to make the leap and give up her steady job in the family business.

“It was the best thing I ever did, although it was a big leap from having a regular wage. I really believe if you have a dream, you should do it because then you are happy in yourself.”

She chose to focus on stained glass because “my dad always told me to do something different and then you will succeed” and there are very few stained glass artists in Ireland.

Sue set up during the recession, but business has blossomed and she is currently in the process of finishing a new website – she finds that US and Canadian visitors, who buy presents for friends, will often want to buy items for themselves when they return home.

It’s not surprising, because her work is beautiful and very reasonably priced and she is constantly pushing herself.

“If you have regular customers and they want something different, that drives me. People want something unique and it’s up to me to give it to them.”

She mixes stained glass with copper and wood to make it more unusual and to support other local craftspeople who provide her with these materials.

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