Meet some of the female makers showcasing their work at the Ballymaloe Craft Fair in East Cork

THE annual Ballymaloe Craft Fair makes its return to East Cork over the weekends of November 17 and 24, with hundreds of makers showcasing their work.

The fair’s mission is to provide a platform for local artisans to showcase and sell their creations, champion Irish-made products and promote sustainability. There’ll be more than 150 exhibitors offering different shopping experiences each weekend, including textiles, glassware, sculptures, art, woodwork, jewellery and leather goods.

Operations manager at Ballymaloe Grainstore, Bree Allen, said the event is a must for those who want to shop locally this Christmas: “The sheer scale of products available and the breadth of talent among the makers is phenomenal and it’s wonderful to know that, by doing your Christmas shopping here, you’re supporting your friends and neighbours.

It’s never been more important to buy Irish, and the Craft Fair is the perfect opportunity to do this, while also enjoying a great day out in a beautiful surrounding.

Laura Behan, general manager of Ballymaloe House Hotel, said: “It’s wonderful to think of the amount of beautiful and sustainable products by Irish makers that are sold at the Craft Fair every year, it makes us very proud to be part of the ‘shop local’ movement at Christmas time.”

A shuttle bus will run daily from Midleton train station, via Cloyne to Ballymaloe and onto Ballycotton and back.

Entry to the Craft Fair is €8 per day with children under 12 free. There’s also the option of a three-day weekend pass for €16.. For more, see www.ballymaloegrainstore.com

What do some of the exhibitors have to say...

Laura McCarthy, By Hook or By Crochet

WHEN Laura McCarthy’s nan passed away and some wool was discovered in her belongings, her mum suggested she should use it to try her hand at crocheting.

That was in 2012, and the Youghal woman admits she had never even heard of crocheting – but fast forward to today and she runs her own successful crafting business ‘By Hook or By Crochet.’

“With the help of YouTube, I got started and was instantly hooked (no pun intended .. or is it?).  

When I was younger, I was taught the absolute basics of knitting and never took to it and I was expecting the same with crochet but I’m now rarely anywhere without wool and a hook in my hands.  

"I have three dogs that I’m obsessed with and I have even crocheted them their own birthday hats!” she said.

Laura suffers from anxiety and says being able to crochet helps: “It’s great having a creative output.”

Events like the Ballymaloe Craft Fair are so important, she said.

“It’s a great way for people to see your work. I also love getting to know other stall-holders, I have made a good few friends through doing craft markets and it’s great talking to those who know what it’s like. 

The handmade community is so supportive, and one of the things I love about going to craft markets is seeing how creative people are.

One of the highs of her business is the reaction people have to her pieces: “It always brings a smile to my face seeing people fall in love with what I’ve made. I have had a few people tell me they have sent my makes to their families or friends around the world. It’s so weird to think that my makes are in places I’ve never been to! Even after all this time, I still can’t believe the items I have made are actually made by me.”

In the run up to Christmas, Laura reminds consumers how important it is to shop small and to support those who have small businesses.

“It validates the effort they put into their products. It always makes me smile when I sell a product – it really makes all the behind the scenes work worth it.”

Sarah Ward Hendry, Ruxx

SARAH Ward Hendry remembers buying a lamp from a woman who had a stall at the first Ballymaloe Craft Fair she attended in 2019.

“It was made from some old nautical maps she had been given and I use it every day. The light glows through lines on the map and is a thing of beauty. It is unique, it reminds me of the day I bought it, who I was with and the delight on the smallholder’s face when my friend and I both bought one. That is priceless!” she says. 

"Buying something from a local source that has been handmade, be it for yourself or as a gift, boosts your local economy but also gives it a sense of worth,” added Sarah, who founded her business Ruxx in 2010 out of a desire for a funky rucksack.

The collection has moved on since to include all sorts of bag shapes, including crossbody bags, totes and bumbags, all of which carry their signature silver lining, which was inspired by her time as a photographer and the use of silver reflectors.

“Having made some stock for my first Ballymaloe event in 2019 gave me the opportunity to test the market and see the response here in Ireland.

I was amazed at how women in Ireland were far more adventurous about style and colour which gave me an open brief and the confidence to look for premises to open a shop in Kinsale.

“I moved my production facilities over, opened a pop-up shop just as the pandemic hit and then went on to open our current shop on Main Street in Kinsale in 2021,” she said.

Just like sustainability is part of the craft fair’s mission, it’s also at the core of Ruxx.

“Keeping overheads low and margins tight is vital to stay in business but sustainability is also important. Leather is one of the oldest sustainable materials as it is a by-product of the meat industry and the tanneries are all making big changes to cleaner, more sustainable processes to the tanning and dying of hides.  Being the manufacturer of my own product reduces waste considerably too, as I design many products that use all of the hide so that nothing (or very little) goes to waste,” said Sarah.

Events like Ballymaloe Craft Fair and craft markets, she said, are where you get the chance to research your market and test reaction to your product and prices.

It also gets your brand recognised in a local area and loyal ‘buy local’ customers create word of mouth marketing, the strongest form of advertising in my mind.

Martyna Potocka, The Little Big Moments

WHEN Martyna Potocka’s sister was pregnant with her first baby, she spent weeks searching for the perfect gift for the soon-to-be mum and baby.

“I wanted it to be something truly special, something with value beyond the price tag, but also something stylish and timeless. None of the baby gifts I came across during my search quite met my criteria. Most were practical items, which are undoubtedly great, but they lacked a sentimental element. 

Hence, I decided to create the perfect gift myself and designed and handcrafted a baby milestone book - a journal designed to record a baby’s first year of life.

"That book eventually grew into a collection of items, and that’s how my business The Little Big Moments started in 2022.”

Originally from Poland, Ireland has been her home since she moved here with her parents and siblings in 2005, and she lives in Carrigtwohill.

“I’m a graphic designer with a passion for crafting, and I combine these two skills to create memorable items that mark special life events,” she said.

Starting and running your own business comes with its ups and downs, she admits.

“There will be days when you feel on top of the world and days when you feel like giving up - both are allowed and completely normal. Starting a business can be difficult with many highs and lows. When things get tough, it’s important to remember why you started, and if you’re doing it for the right reasons, you’ll have the resilience to persist through the challenges,” she said.

In-person events like Ballymaloe Craft Fair are crucial for small craft businesses, she says.

“Most of us operate from our homes or studios with no business premises open to the public, so attending events like Ballymaloe Craft Fair is a great opportunity for us to be seen by more people, as well as giving our customers the chance to see our products in real life.

Most small businesses are built out of pure passion for what they do. The amount of love and dedication that goes into creating our products cannot be compared to mass-produced items.

“When supporting a small business, you’re not just helping the local economy, but you’re also helping small business owners bring their dreams to life.”