Press Release

Craft Designers prepare for “Crafts in the Walled City 2004 ”

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Craft designers from all over Ireland are preparing for Derry City Council’s tenth 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, Derry.

“ Crafts in the Walled City 2004” is organised jointly by Council’s Economic Development Section and North West Marketing. Elaine Godfrey, Council’s Creative Industries Officer; revealed: “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.”

One of the 34 artisans getting ready for the Craft Fair is Donegal woman, Donna Keeney of Ball Green Soap who makes a range of hand-made products for the bathroom all on the shores of Lough Swilly. “All our soaps are hand-made, hand-cut and produced in small batches so no two are the same” said Donna. “ Everything is our own work, from the idea to the label!”

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 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”.

Ends

Notes for Editor
“ 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.

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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