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CEADOGÁN RUG MAKERS weave together tradition and innovation to create exquisite handmade rugs in their studio in Co. Wexford. Made from natural fibres including silk, hemp, bamboo and even their own alpaca wool, they also collaborate with some of Ireland’s most well respected designers and artists to create beautiful rugs that epitomise contemporary Irish craft. Ruth O’Connor speaks to owners Colm Kenny and Martina Navrátilová.
Tell us more about Ceadogán Rug Makers and your own involvement in the business.
(CK) Ceadogán has been running for over 40 years, so the inspiration for its establishment came a little before our time! We were both self-employed and working in creative fields before taking over the business. I suppose a big draw in setting out in business for yourself is the autonomy and the ability to choose your own path. We are both creative and love to work with our hands.
What have you learned so far in business?
(CK) Every day is a school day and we are always learning. Some lessons ring true and remain a constant throughout our daily routine. The importance of good communication is one thing that can not be stressed enough. Also the importance of a healthy work/ life balance particularly when you live in your workplace. One of the main things we’d advise other people to do is to listen to your gut.
What has been the most challenging time for you in business?
(CK) We had both been working in Ceadogán for many years before we bought the business from my uncle Denis and Fiona in 2020 when they retired. About a week later we had the first Covid-19 lockdown. It was a very difficult time to be adapting to our new roles as directors and owners. We navigated through our first years with much anxiety and very little surety of what the future might bring. In some ways we felt almost like we were in a chrysalis and when we came out the other side we had grown and changed in many ways into something entirely new. There was much energy and freshness that came with that – driving a momentum which lead us into many new territories.
What sets your products apart from others on the market?
(MN) Our rugs are made using 100% natural materials – we even produce some of these materials from our own alpacas and are quite unique in this aspect. Mass-produced rugs and carpets are made using robot tufters which are not able to tuft onto backings made of cotton or linen. For this reason, even if you see a natural wool carpet on sale it will usually still have a polyester backing which presents a real problem at end of life when the natural and synthetic fibres cannot be separated. Our rugs and carpets are hand-tufted onto natural backing making them fully biodegradable at end of life. Our ability to adapt designs and tailor our products to our clients’ needs also sets us apart from others in the business.
You’ve got to tell us more about your alpacas!
(MN) We have five females, three of which are currently pregnant. They have a long gestation period of 12 months, as in their natural habitat, the babies have to be able to get up and go from the moment they’re born.
Our alpacas are sheared once a year – usually in May. The beauty of working with alpaca wool is that it doesn’t need to be scoured to remove the lanolin in the same way as sheep wool. The wool is spun at Two Rivers Mill which specialises in alpaca wool. The beauty of the alpaca wool used in our designs is that it is from our own animals, it is undyed and beautifully soft. We use pure alpaca in our wall hangings and we blend it with Galway Wool for our rugs to add body and durability.
How has the Irish consumer responded to what you do? (MN) The Irish consumer has responded very well. We have a steady client base across diverse sectors here. It’s always a nice to see that people are aware of Ceadogán and the quality of our work. We work with a mixture of private and commerical clients – in fact we were recently in Dublin installing custom carpets in a commerical office building. What is beautiful about our products is that they are natural, long-lasting, handmade and unique. People treasure them and look after them for many years. Our customers like the fact that our product is handmade, that it is made in Ireland, that it is made with natural materials and that we have a strong design ethos. We are not about getting people to buy rugs every couple of years. These are pieces you’ll have for a long time and we also try to keep the prices as low as we can given the work that goes into each piece.
Where do you look for inspiration?
(CK) Inspiration can come from anywhere. There is something very magical even in the most mundane of things if you look with an open heart. Inspiration very often presents itself if you are in a receptive frame of mind. When you are actively searching it out is when it is most difficult to find. So I guess where we look for inspiration is in an open and receptive mind.
Describe your workspace.
(CK) Our work space is in an 18th century yard with stone built buildings. The old hay shed is where we make the rugs and we have a showroom and office and yarn store in the old loft where animals were once stabled and feeds once stored. We are situated on an estuary in the south east of Wexford with stunning views over Bannow Bay. It is a truly beautiful place to live, work and visit.
Describe a typical working day. (MN) As a small team we each have a very varied schedule of tasks and responsibilities. Working days start at 9am and run till 5pm and during that time anything could be happening from speaking to clients about designs, ordering materials, checking production schedules, checking deliveries, sending swatches, delivering finished pieces and of course the all-important making of the rugs!
How important is collaboration to what you do? (MN) Collaboration has always been one of the fundamental aspects of our practice here. Through collaboration with artists and designers of all kinds we keep a freshness and a vitality in our work.
If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
(CK) Ha! Maybe grilling fresh mackerel on the beach in Bannow bay!
What has been your proudest moment/ favourite project so far? (MN) Our Island exhibition in 2023 in which we made 12 unique pieces with 12 different artists is still one of our proudest moments. We donated half of the profits from the auction to the Peter McVerry Trust and used the remainder to establish the habitat and wildlife support project For the Birds. The show was opened by poet Rita Ann Higgins which was a very special moment. Her book The Long Weekend, based on her pandemic poems on the Brendan O’Connor Show is a brilliant one to have on your shelf.
What’s next for you and your work in 2025? (CK) We are working on a couple of really exciting projects right now which will be coming out this year and next. It’s worth watching this space and we look forward to sharing everything when the time comes.
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