IF YOU’VE EVER wanted to try your hand at craft, August is the perfect month to do it.

August Craft Month, a joint venture presented by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and Craft NI, offers hundreds of events — including craft workshops, exhibitions, ‘meet the maker’ events and markets — across the country that are sure to inspire anyone who likes to get creative.

There is a wide array of events that there is something for everyone of all ages available, no matter what kind of craft speaks to you. There are mosaic workshops, you can learn how to sculpt a clay puffin, or if music is your thing, there’s even a workshop where you can see how a bodhrán is made. 

Attending these workshops gives you the chance to get in touch with your creative side — whether it’s channelling your inner-Patrick Swayze at the throwing wheel, making your own suncatcher or simply having fun with your friends as you learn a new skill. 

Even if you’ve never taken up a craft before, learning to work with your hands and make things can enhance your wellbeing and spark the beginnings of a new hobby. If you want to find out what kind of craft inspires you most, you’ll definitely want to take part in August Craft Month.

Events across the country will be led by craftspeople, and you can pick up some useful new skills by taking part in workshops, get your creative juices flowing by visiting exhibitions and open studios, or stroll through pop-up shops and find any number of beautiful handcrafted pieces to decorate your home.

These events are taking place in cities and towns all across Ireland, meaning that no matter where you are, you’ll be able to engage with a range of enriching events — including events for all ages.  

The entire programme can be found online here. You can search events by location and date, meaning that you can tailor your August Craft Month experience to your own availability. You can also filter by the type of craft that interests you. It’s an extensive list, including such disciplines as: ceramics, textiles, jewellery-making, leatherwork, toymaking, glassmaking, soapmaking, candle-making, woodwork and blacksmithing. 

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Helpfully, you can also filter the programme for the type of event you want to attend, so if you’re set on attending a market, you can see the full list of them online and plan your summer accordingly. 

As you can probably imagine, many of the events in the schedule are in high demand, so if you want to take part, you should book your spot online and make sure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to awaken your inner craftsperson. 

From complete beginners to kids, everyone can get involved in August Craft Month this summer and enjoy an unmissable opportunity to experience, support, learn about, make, see and buy outstanding local craft. August Craft Month supports centuries-long craft traditions across Ireland, helping to keep these traditions alive as they get passed down through generations.

Visit August Craft Month online to learn more, browse the full programme of events and book yourself in for whatever excites you.