Press Release

Mayor backs Crafts in the Walled City 2004

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

The Mayor, Councillor Gearoid Óh Eára has announced details of Derry City Council’s 10th annual craft fair and demonstration, which will take place on the weekend of 20th and 21st of November 2004, right in the heart of the Historic Walled City at the Calgach Centre in Butcher Street.

The Mayor, Councillor Gearoid O’hEara, pictured at the launch of the Crafts in the Walled City 2004. Also included from left, Elaine Godfrey, Economic Development Section, Derry City Council; local craft designer Fiona Cassidy, and Julie Irwin, North West Marketing.

“Crafts in the Walled City 2004” is jointly organised by Council’s Economic Development Section and North West Marketing.

The Mayor commented: “I am pleased to see new talent being recognised at a national level and particularly pleased about the role which the Council’s event has played in showcasing it. I look forward to the event at the end of the month and look forward to welcoming exhibitors to the City. It is great to see that the North West Institute is also partnering the Council in the event.”

The Faculty of Art and Design from the North West Institute are involved in the event, not only exhibiting the work of their design students but will give regular demonstrations of the techniques of craft-making.

Julie Irwin, of North West Marketing said: “Thirty four craft designers from all parts of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been selected to take part in the event. Preparations started six months ago when crafts people were invited to apply to exhibit at the Derry event. Rigorous selection criteria were applied to ensure that only the best in Irish traditional and contemporary craft-design are represented.”

The branding for “Crafts in the Walled City 2004” features the work of Fiona Cassidy, a Derry based designer. Fiona’s ceramics were selected by the Crafts Council of Ireland for their “Top 100 Index”, which profiles the most innovative and exciting new product ideas in Irish Crafts in 2004.

This is the tenth year that the Craft Fair and Exhibition has been supported by the Council’s Economic Development Programme and DETI’s EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme.

Elaine Godfrey, Economic Development Section, Derry City Council noted: “While the event makes a vital contribution to the development of the craft sector in the northern half of the island, “Crafts in the Walled City 2004” is also important to the Derry’s economy, enhancing the Historic City’s reputation as a centre of excellence for the creative industries as well for its critical mass of speciality shopping and food”.

“Crafts in the Walled City 2004” event will open on Saturday 20th November 2004 and everyone is welcome to attend. Opening hours are as follows – Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. Admission is £1 and under 12’s are admitted free of charge. Further details of the event can be obtained by contacting the Economic Development Section of Derry City Council, Tel. 028 7137 6532 or by logging onto www.derrycity.gov.uk/crafts.

Notes to Editor:

Caption for photograph:

The Mayor, Councillor Gearoid O’hEara, pictured at the launch of the Crafts in the Walled City 2004. Also included from left, Elaine Godfrey, Economic Development Section, Derry City Council; local craft designer Fiona Cassidy, and Julie Irwin, North West Marketing.

Further press information can be obtained by contacting the City Marketing Department, Tel. 028 7137 6504.

For additional information contact:

Press Office

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