Clare Crafts to launch new logo this Friday

AS it enters what is the busiest time of the year for home-grown crafts with a string of countywide and nationwide craft fairs, Clare Crafts are launching a new logo, which its members feel will bring a whole new meaning to Guaranteed Irish.

Ann Moloney, spokeswoman with Clare Crafts, believes that the new logo will become synonymous with quality craft that is 100% made in Clare.
Ennis native, internationally renowned artist Mick O’Dea, is launching the new Clare Crafts logo at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis this Friday at 8pm.
The new logo, designed by members of the association, cleverly a combination of the letter C, clearly representing Clare and Crafts. It also uses the county colours of blue and yellow.
“The new logo will promote Clare crafts that are made from quality Irish materials, where possible, paired with leading designs. It will be symbolic of products that are designed and craft in Clare. Outsourcing of the manufacturing of Irish crafts has unfortunately become commonplace in recent years but Clare Crafts hope to both highlight this fact and reverse the trend of people buying what they mistakenly believe is Irish-made craft,” Ann added.
Since its formation in 1993, the Clare Association of Artists and Craft Workers has successfully encouraged individual craftspeople to work and develop together as a group with a common objective. Since then, the association, now called Clare Crafts, has involved itself in organising exhibitions and craft fairs, creating an awareness of the quality of art and craft made in Clare.
“Clare Crafts has also been a source of inspiration and information to groups in other counties helping to develop their own associations. It has involved itself locally within the community, raising awareness for various charity groups, as well as keeping employment local and generally rural. It continuously welcomes new members who breathe new life and ideas into the association. Marketing our products together is vital to our sustainability; our new logo will become synonymous with quality craft made 100% in Clare,” Ann said.
The association now has up to 40 members, all of whom are crafting and producing their goods. “The main aspect of our group is supporting each other as craftspeople. We offer each other advice and camaraderie and are a network for information for each other also,” she added.
She said that she is aware that there is a perception that quality crafts are expensive. “Some crafts are more expensive that mass-produced items in retail stores but when people consider that time, effort, materials and expertise that go into each craft product, they do realise that locally produced crafts are not expensive and are well worth the cost. The other aspect of a locally crafted item is that the customer has access to the craftsperson, the creator of the goods, so prior to buying can actually discuss what they want and very often have an item created just for them. What many people like also is that they can have a unique item in their home and that they definitely won’t see in anyone else’s home. In terms of buying a gift for someone, people always appreciate something different with some thought gone into it and that is true of a locally made crafts good more than anything else,” Ann commented.
Between now and Christmas, members of Clare Crafts will be showcasing and selling their range of crafts at a number of craft fairs throughout the country and nationwide. The local craft fairs to look out for include the Ennis Craft Fair in the Holy Family School on November 27, the craft fair in the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe on November 14 and in Bunratty Hotel on November 20 and 21. There are also Christmas craft fairs in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare on December 5, in the Lough Rea Hotel, Loughrea on December 12 and in the University Concert Hall, Limerick on December 19 and 20.
For more information on local venues for craft fairs see www.clarecrafts.com.