The Jameson Black Barrel Craft Market takes place in the Backyard of the Bernard Shaw in Portobello on Friday 27th Sunday 29th of November in association with Bodytonic and will feature of host Irish artisans and craftspeople working a range of different fields that showcase a continually growing appreciation for the level of skill, enthusiasm and history that is imbued in the products that they create. The lineup at the market ranges from Mamukka, run by a pair of Hungarian brothers in Kinsale creating bags from upcycled parts of boats, to Garvan De Bruir who creates exception leatherwork at his Kildare studio. There will also be demonstrations from the makers themselves, live music and food and drink pairings.
Ireland’s own craft traditions never disappeared, but since the depths of the economic downturn, the Year of Craft in 2011 and Irish Design 2015, the appetite amongst the public for quality, handmade goods has grown hugely, and Jameson, whose coopers still use the same traditional double-charring process on its barrels to produce the smooth taste of Black Barrel, is proud to showcase this array of talent found amongst the makers of Ireland. We chatted to three of the craftspeople who are taking part this November.
BONAGREW
Olivia Hartigan is the brains behind Bonagrew, who create a beautiful range of ties, bowties and scarves that are simple, sophisticated and thoroughly inspired by the environment in which Olivia grew up in County Wicklow. “The name is derived from this small coastal townland. The inexhaustible pleasure from the shape, colour and texture of plants, grasses, flowers and wildlife around there feeds my imagination.” This is evident in the evocative names like Blackberry, Burnet Rose, Wild Thyme that her ties are named after. “My grandparents were avid greenfingers. I have memories of them arranging out the best seeds and seedlings for the next planting season, absorbed in a sort of obligation to find unexpected beauty. This is how I craft the Bonagrew style. I seek out natural colours and materials that reflect a sophistication of simplicity.”
Having dreamt of working fashion, Hartigan gained a scholarship to study for a masters degree in Bocconi University in Milan, before adding invaluable experience working with Tarlach de Blacam at Inis Meáin Knitting Company, and alongside Stefano Rosso at Diesel, all of which feeds into the Bonagrew brand. “It gave me the confidence to pursue my own creativity and seek out the weaving mills and garment manufacturers in Ireland. I researched fabric qualities, weights and finishes, and made my first prototype tie during a sewing class in my local library.”
The dedication to simplicity and quality is obvious in Bonagrew’s products. “I learned to never skimp on material and construction craftsmanship. Irish linen and tweed is the best in the world. Some of the world’s most vibrant gardens and wildlife are found in County Wicklow where I’m from. I was inspired to bring the everyday garden to life through a sophisticated palette of colours, woven into traditional fabrics and made into contemporary, premium accessories,” says Olivia.
Like others appearing at the Jameson Black Barrel Craft Market, Bonagrew fuses old traditions with newer designs. “I aspire to elevate the value of traditional Irish fabrics by giving them contemporary appeal and relevance to men and women,” explains Hartigan. “I’m not modernising the production processes in linen, tweed or accessory making – all these crafts must continue to be done by both hand and machine. But to sustain and progress, they need sales orders. I see Bonagrew playing a role in the modernisation of the demand, at home and internationally, for the best possible products made in Ireland.”
