KIDS CRAFT WORKSHOP IN LIBRARY

Kilcullen Community Library is hosting a Kids Craft Workshop to celebrate the conclusion of the Summer Stars Library Reading Initiative. The workshop, titled Making a Bird Feeder from Milk Cartons, will take place on Wednesday, 1 September, at 3.30pm and promises to be a fun and creative session.

Suitable ages 7+ years. BOOKING REQUIRED: Contact Kilcullen Community Library on 045 482193 or kilcullenlib@kildarecoco.ie.

Also, children who participated in the Summer Stars Reading Initiative are reminded to return their Reading booklet or page. By doing so, they will have a chance to win a prize in the Prize Draw, with winners being contacted after the draw on 1 September. 

Participants will also receive their Summer Stars Certificate, acknowledging their excellent reading efforts over the summer.

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Willow weaving workshop in Library

Image: Hanife Altan, Pexels.

A Willow Weaving Workshop for Adults will be held on Wednesday, 19 August, from 3pm to 4:15pm, at Kilcullen Community Library, writes Brian Byrne. Led by willow weaver and heritage specialist Beth Murphy, this creative workshop offers participants the chance to craft an individual project using ancient basketmaking techniques. 

Beth will also explore the benefits of working with sustainable willow and how it fosters a connection with nature. 

The event is accessible by public transport, is fully wheelchair accessible, and free of charge. For more information, contact Kilcullen Community Library at 087 1334784 or kilcullenlib@kildarecoco.ie.

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Friday craft mornings in Library

Image: Teona Swift via Pexels.

Kilcullen Library hosts a relaxed and friendly craft morning for adults every Friday at 11am. 

No prior experience is necessary, making it a perfect opportunity for everyone to get creative and meet new people.

All welcome.

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Crafts and brand workshop

There are still places available for the free Focus on Craft - Building Your Brand and Telling Your Craft Story workshop at MERITS, Naas, on 9 June 2026, writes Brian Byrne. Hosted by Local Enterprise Office Kildare, it will run from 10am to 12.30pm. 

This interactive session is designed for craft makers, designers, and creative business owners to develop a strong brand identity and communicate their story effectively. Participants will learn about brand foundations, craft storytelling, visual identity, and simple marketing strategies.

Booking available at this link. 

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Cross-stitching sessions in Kilcullen Library

A reminder that a weekly Cross-stitching session for adults will be held in Kilcullen Community Library every Friday morning from 11am. 

It will be a very social event, with all materials provided. 

Beginners and experienced stitchers will be equally welcome. 

Call 045 482193 or email kilcullenlib@kildarecoco.ie for more information.

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Willow craft workshop for children

A Children's Willow Workshop will be held in Kilcullen Community Library on Saturday, 6 June, writes Brian Byrne. The event is part of Cruinniú na nÓg 2026.

Suitable for children aged nine upwards, the event will run from 11 am and will be facilitated by Beth Murphy, a renowned weaver and heritage expert. 

The workshop is free, but booking is advised. Call 045 482193 or email kilcullenlib@kildarecoco.ie. 

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Marketing workshop for craft entrepreneurs

An opportunity for craft entrepreneurs to access expert support in growing their businesses will be hosted by Local Enterprise Office Kildare at MERITS in Naas on 9 June.

The morning workshop offers tailored guidance on how to turn creative talent into sustainable commercial success and is designed to help makers and creative entrepreneurs develop a strong brand identity and communicate their story in a way that resonates with customers.

Elements include Brand Foundations: Define your values, vision, and what makes your craft stand out; Craft Storytelling: Learn how to share your journey and process to build emotional connections; Visual Identity: Explore tips for consistent branding across social media, packaging, and online platforms; and Marketing Made Simple: Discover practical ways to use your story to attract and retain customers.

This session has been designed specifically for craft makers, designers, and creative business owners who want to strengthen their brand and stand out in a competitive market.

Details and booking at this link. 

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New crochet class in Community Centre

Places are filling up fast for a special crochet workshop taking place in Kilcullen next month. The beginner-friendly session, which is also suitable for improvers, will run on 8 April from 7–9pm in the Carter Room at Kilcullen Community Centre. 

The workshop costs €25, with all tools and yarn included in the fee. The class will be led in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, making it ideal for those picking up a hook for the first time or returning to the craft.

With limited spaces available, early booking is advised. To secure a place, contact Jennifer on 087 2628305 or visit Instagram at @costellocrochet_.

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Crochet workshop for Narraghmore

A crochet workshop designed for beginners and those looking to improve their skills will take place in The Old Hardware in Narraghmore on Friday, 13 March.

The session is scheduled from 11am to 1pm, and the fee is €25, which includes tools and yarn. 

Those interested in participating can contact Jennifer at 087 2628305 or visit the Instagram account @costellocrochet_. 

Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.

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Ceramics classes at Kildare Steiner School

Kildare Steiner School is offering ceramic workshops for all skill levels. Participants can create an oil burner or a fern tray during sessions on Friday, 20 February at 2pm (€65, lasting 2-4 hours) and Saturday, 21 February at 10am (€75, approximately 2.5 hours). 

All materials, firing, glazing, and room costs are included. Weekly ceramic classes are also available on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5pm, focusing on projects or wheel-throwing, with a fee of €30 that covers materials and costs. Advance booking is required. 

Children under 8, accompanied by an adult, can participate at no extra charge; those over 8 can work independently with a 50% discount. Contact the school at info@KildareSteinerSchool.ie or call Grazyna at 085 7071144.

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Threads of Connection still on view

A tapestry of quilt squares, which has been on display in Kilcullen Heritage Centre for First Fortnight 2026, represents the thoughts and talents of a wide range of people, writes Brian Byrne. Threads of Connection is a project organised by Dúlra Cill Dara, evoking favourite memories, seasonal inspiration, childhood, and nature.

There are 48 squares in the piece, each unique and the result of a variety of craft skills and experimentation by children, students, adults, and family groups. They were produced over a series of workshops held in the Heritage Centre and Kilcullen Library in recent months.

Beyond its visual impact, the quilt is available online, with commentary from the squares' creators on what their piece means to them and how its elements evoke memories and emotions. The commentaries are available in both written and audio formats and can be accessed via a QR code.

For example, Lynn's square reminded her of forest camping with kids and no one else around — birdsong, a river passing, rustling leaves, crunchy underfoot, a smoking campfire, and boiling coffee. Julie's thoughts when making hers were of trees, the Liffey, birds, wildness and freedom, youth and beauty, lazy days, sunshine, fields and hedges, ditches, water, ponds, Dan Brennan's wood, the big tree, and Ray Nolan's orchard. For Mairéad and her children, Ava and Shaylin, their work was about remembering the power of nature, "to ground us, to inspire us, to sustain us, to offer protection, beauty, comfort, entertainment, power and security."

Kate Maher of Dúlra, who organised the project, says it was about people coming together through making, using textiles and natural materials, and through shared conversation to explore connection, place, and personal stories. "Techniques explored included natural dyeing, block printing, botanical impressions, hand stitching, appliqué and fabric collage. Some participants arrived with years of experience, others picked up a needle for the first time. The emphasis throughout was on process rather than perfection — taking time, experimenting, and learning together."

The project was supported by Kildare County Council Arts Service through the First Fortnight Award. The exhibition finishes tomorrow, Saturday 17th. But if you can't make it, it's worth spending time with it virtually, through the QR code. Photos below courtesy of Dúlra Cill Dara.

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Benny Clifford retires after 51 years with Berney Bros

Today is rather special in Berney Bros Saddlery, when Brendan (Benny) Clifford retires after 51 years as a leather craftsman with the business, writes Brian Byrne. It's also another milestone in his family's involvement with the 145-year-old saddlery.

Benny recalls that there were already long-standing connections when he went straight into the workshop after leaving school in the early 1970s. "My mother's father and uncle worked here with the old boss, Thomas's grandfather," he told the Diary yesterday. "My brother Dec worked here, and my cousins Liam and Ger. People sometimes laughed and asked, Is it Berney Saddlers or Clifford Saddlers?"

In his half-century with the firm, Benny has recollections of many of the biggest names in the Irish racing industry coming through the workshop to discuss their needs, especially those from the 1970s. "There was TP Burns, Con Collins, Francis Flood, Mick Connolly and Mick O'Toole. Paddy Mullins, too, and John Oxx and his father. They'd all be coming through to talk to Jim Berney out the back, where he had a workshop doing blankets and collars."

Benny wouldn't have considered how long he might be with the Kilcullen shop when he started, but now he says the years have just flown by. "That happens when you're doing something you like, and with people you like. All the lads here have been brilliant, and I couldn't have worked for better bosses, Jim and Tom, and now the younger lads."

Benny has been easing his way into retirement, working three days a week for a while. He hasn't given much thought to how he'll spend his new spare time, but he and his wife Bernie like walking, and they do a lot of that in the Killarney area. 

Where, no doubt, if they encounter somebody on horseback, by force of habit, Benny looks to see the quality of the saddle and whether it is one of the tens of thousands that have come out of the famous Kilcullen workshop, that he has had a hand in making.

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Threads of Connection quilt workshops

A community quilt art project will continue with four workshops in the Library and in Kilcullen Heritage Centre over the coming weekend. There have already been two workshops in the Threads of Connection series, all standalone and free to attend. 

Participants are each producing a quilt square using nature-based techniques, including natural dyeing and block printing, stitching, plant impressions, and fabric collage. The squares will reflect the maker’s memories, inspirations, and connections with nature. Once completed, the squares will be sewn into a large community quilt for public display during First Fortnight 2026 – Ireland’s annual arts and mental health festival. The quilt will mirror Kilcullen’s community spirit and creativity, stitched together through shared experience and care.

Threads of Connection is delivered by Dúlra Cill Dara and is funded by Kildare County Council Arts Service under the First Fortnight Award 2025.

The times and locations of this weekend's workshops are:

Fri 24 Oct | 10:00 – 11:45 – Kilcullen Town Hall & Heritage Centre

Sat 25 Oct | 10:15 – 12:00 – Kilcullen Library

Mon 27 Oct | 15:00 – 16:45 – Kilcullen Town Hall

Tue 28 Oct | 15:00 – 16:45 – Kilcullen Library

Booking is free but essential: www.dulracilldara.ie

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Candle making and flower arranging for Seniors

A candle-making and flower arranging session for seniors is being held at The Old Hardware in Narraghmore on Thursday morning, 23 October.

It's a free workshop, supported by the County Kildare Leader Partnership, and will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

The session will run in conjunction with the cafe's regular Seniors Morning.

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