Folk Museum Making Festival

Stephen Ryan from Green Woodwork Ireland is based in the heart of Belfast’s Lagan Valley. With inspiration taken from traditional Irish life, each traditional woodcraft piece is carved by hand, using locally sourced hardwoods and traditional hand tools. Stephen is helping to revive an ancient form of woodland craft that has been practiced for thousands of years but has long since disappeared from our woodlands and workshops. 

Roberta Larkin is a stained glass artist based in Bangor. She works with both leaded stained glass and Tiffany glass, repairing and creating leaded stained glass panels for windows and doors, as well as intricate Tiffany designs for interiors. She also offers group and private workshops to share her craft.

Gary Orr is an artist and signwriter based in Carrickfergus. He has been working as a signwriter for over 30 years, specialising in high-quality hand-painted signs, gold-leaf gilding and wall murals. His work can be seen across the UK & Ireland adorning pubs, shops, homes and clubs. 

Ivor Kilpatrick is an experienced thatcher from Raphoe, County Donegal. Thatching has been in his family for generations and he is passionate about passing on his skills and knowledge of the craft. He also produces organically grown rye and flax for thatching. 

The team of skilled and experienced craftspeople from Historic Environment Division Moira Works Depot are responsible for maintaining, repairing and conserving Northern Ireland’s historic state care monuments. Historic Environment Division, which sits within the Department for Communities, is the government lead on the recording, protection, conservation and promotion of the historic environment of Northern Ireland.

Willie John has been demonstrating straw rope making at the Ulster Folk Museum for over 30 years and has a farming background and has a love of rural life and traditional craft.

Originally from Ballyclare, John Weir has a passion for carriage driving and regularly takes part in agricultural shows throughout Northern Ireland. John is one of the youngest horse ploughmen in the North of Ireland and is a collector of traditional horse harnesses.

The team at the Ulster Folk Museum are a special collective of craft demonstrators, visitor guides and first-person interpreters. Throughout the museum, you will have the chance to meet our talented demonstrators and see our makers at work, keeping traditional heritage skills alive for generations to come. Making and celebrating traditional heritage skills is who we are and what we do at the Ulster Folk Museum, with makers ranging from willow weavers, linen weavers, wool weavers, spinners, blacksmiths, printers and heritage carpenters.

Craft NI is the sector-lead body for the promotion and development of the design-led contemporary craft industry in Northern Ireland. Enjoy a specially curated craft fair supported by Craft NI located in the Diamond area of the town. Here you can purchase a unique piece of craft and witness demonstrations from the makers throughout the festival. 

If you have been inspired by some of the makers during your visit, you can drop into the 'Reawakening Hub' which we're calling the 'Built Heritage Hub' for the weekend to meet Isabel from CITB NI who will be able to tell you about upcoming training courses, the work of CITB NI and how to get involved in heritage construction careers. 

Claire is a silversmith and artist based near Annalong at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. Rural life and the landscapes she grew up around have a strong influence on her practice. Her work uses traditional silversmithing techniques to explore heritage, landscape and folklore.

An Droichead is an Irish language organisation that preserves and promotes the development of Irish language and culture through education, arts, family & community services, and outreach work. An Droichead are at the centre of the growing traditional music community in Belfast.

The Irish Saddler, qualified saddler and harness maker of the Society of Master Saddlers, Lucy Cushley has been working in Co. Down creating saddlery and leatherwork since 2016. Using traditional hand skills, she also runs a repair service to bring back leather items to their former glory. Lucy also uses this heritage craft to create new and exciting bespoke items from homewares and fashion accessories to feature films.

Following an apprenticeship with Coppice Woodland in Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex Thomas found a love of wood that has continued ever since. Thomas currently runs his own Gardening and Tree Work business in the Ards & North Down Borough and practices Greenwood Work as and when projects arise.