Inspired by the Irish Arts & Crafts Revival – How one quote from 1902 inspired a new journey
“We’re inspired by a wish to see Irish hands in the making of beautiful things.”
Sometimes a single quote is enough to change everything.
For me, that moment came almost three years ago, while researching the remarkable history of traditional Irish crafts and the Irish Arts and Crafts Revival.
I discovered the story of the Dun Emer Guild, founded in 1902 by Evelyn Gleeson, together with Lily and Elizabeth Yeats, sisters of the poet William Butler Yeats.
The Guild wasn’t simply a workshop.
It was a vision for a different kind of Ireland.
At a time when industrialisation was changing the way goods were made, the founders believed that beautiful things should continue to be created by skilled craftspeople using Irish materials wherever possible.
One description of their mission was beautifully simple: “We’re inspired by a wish to see Irish hands in the making of beautiful things.”
Although the exact wording of this quote varies slightly depending on the historical source, the message remains exactly the same.
Irish craftsmanship matters.
That sentence stayed with me. Long after I’d finished reading about the Dun Emer Guild, I kept returning to those words. I began to think about the talented makers I had already met across Inishowen, Donegal and Derry.
Potters. Weavers. Printmakers. Woodturners. Blacksmiths.
People quietly creating extraordinary work in studios and workshops that many visitors never get the chance to discover.
I wondered… Could that original vision still inspire something today?
Almost on impulse, I searched to see if the domain name www.irishhands.com was available. To my surprise… It was.
That simple online domain search marked the beginning of what would eventually become Irish Hands.
More than an online shop
Irish Hands was never intended to be simply another online marketplace. Nor was it created solely to sell handmade Irish gifts. From the beginning, the idea was much bigger.
I wanted to create a place where people could discover authentic Irish makers, learn their stories, visit their workshops and experience the creativity that exists throughout the North West of Ireland.
A place where buying a handmade gift became something much more meaningful because you knew the person behind it.
A place where visitors could do more than admire craftsmanship. They could experience it for themselves.
Today, Irish Hands brings together authentic handmade Irish gifts and bookable craft experiences, helping visitors discover talented local makers while supporting traditional Irish craftsmanship.
Inspired by the past. Crafted for the future.
Almost 125 years have passed since the founders of the Dun Emer Guild first shared their vision.
The world has changed beyond recognition. Technology has transformed the way we communicate, travel and shop. Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how we work.
Yet despite all this change, one thing remains remarkably constant. People still value authenticity. People still appreciate handmade craftsmanship. People still want to know the story behind what they buy.
Irish Hands exists to celebrate those values. Not by looking backwards with nostalgia. But by helping today’s makers tell tomorrow’s stories. Because every handcrafted piece carries something that can never be mass-produced. The skill of the maker. The character of the place. The care that only human hands can bring.
Every maker has a story
One of the greatest privileges of creating Irish Hands has been meeting the remarkable people behind the work. Every maker has followed a different path. Every workshop has its own atmosphere. Every piece has its own story.
Over the coming months, I’ll be introducing many of these talented craftspeople here on Irish Hands. You’ll meet potters, weavers, blacksmiths, printmakers, woodturners and many others who continue to keep Ireland’s rich craft making traditions alive.
I hope you’ll enjoy meeting them as much as I have. Because I genuinely believe that ‘Every maker has a story. Every visitor becomes part of it’.
Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Shane Kirby
Founder of Irish Hands
This article shares the story of how Irish Hands began. It also acknowledges the inspiration drawn from the Dun Emer Guild, founded in 1902 by Evelyn Gleeson, Lily Yeats and Elizabeth Yeats. While Irish Hands has no formal connection to the Guild, its founding vision continues to inspire our own mission to celebrate authentic Irish craftsmanship.
