The two hand-crafted currachs were made as part of a special project by artist and boat-builder Mark Redden, highlighting the ancient Irish craft of boat building. Mark is an ambasador for the craft of currach building, Irish Heritage and culture. This year will see the the 4th edition of the Mediterranean Currach Regatta take place on Sunday March 18th 2012 in the Maremàgnum area at the heart of Barcelona. Head over to iomramh.org to find out more.

Fatti Burke is a Dublin based graphic designer, illustrator and messer. Here work is nothing less than delightful and she is at every cool party in town, either making her mark or spinning some beats, a very nice young lady with a great sense of humour.
Pretty sure we will be seeing her around well into the future.

Mick Minogue the Hansome Little Fox painted this portrait of the two design goats, He just popped in, started late and finished earlier. A self described maker who lives up to his name, he has a really witty way of describing himself and others. He’s busy creating animated characters in 2d and 3d such as the conjoined cyclist above. You can check out what he’s been up to and planning here

This little number is one of our own, a patterned interpretation of the
docklands area.

Good old James, For anyone who remembers them it obvious who’s in the background there. Another little beauty from the Legendary James Kirwan. For anyone who’s consumed by their urban happenings, a positive reminder of how close the good old countryside is.

.

Shane Kenna can turn his hand to all sorts, he produced the design goat identity and re-invented the all time Irish Classic the Macaroon Bar. Not sure if he has suffered major casualties in his life but he sure has a thing for broken bones. Reminds us of the MB classic Operation. A fresh new face on the Dublin Graphic design scene.

This project by the goats is a sign that with a little imagination, plenty of consideration, some OSB and a paintbrush that Dublin and Ireland has a lot to look forward to. Stay tuned for an update on the finished space. Best of luck Guys.

Two hand-crafted currachs were launched into the Irish Sea on Saturday the 7th January 2012 as part of a special project highlighting the ancient Irish craft of boat building.

The launch at East Wall Sports Club on January 7th follows a month-long currach workshop where a team have been hand-building the boats under the careful guidance of artist and boat-builder, Mark Redden, who learnt the craft from Jackie Mons and Cork currach builder Padraig O Duinnin.

It is hoped these new additions in Dublin’s currach fleet will produce crews that will compete in the regattas of the west coast.

Rosie from Re-dress took part in the workshop so we asked her a few questions about it.

How did you hear about the workshop?
A friend mentioned it one night over a few drinks and I said yes before he finished the sentence

How many of you did the workshop and how long did it take?
10 of us built them over 4 weeks; we ended up starting and finishing on a full moon which was pretty symbolic

How would you describe the experience?
One of the richest experiences I’ve ever hand on so many levels. Rich in learning – from the culture and skills of boat making to an increased awareness of the importance of our language and heritage. Rich in building strong relationships and friendships  with inspirational individuals who fully believe in the power of doing.

Would you recommend it?
300%

Did you get to row the Currach yourself?
Yep; took it for a spin on the day and then again on Sunday. The Tolka estuary is tidal so we have to plan depending on tides. I’d love to take it up the Tolka to the Botanic Gardens but that will take a bit of planning to check we can make it as the tides heading out.

Have you any boat making plans for the future?
The project will definitely happen again; it’s just a question of timing but when it does I’m in!

Has the experience inspired you?
Hugely; it’s an amazing thing to be part of a project that inspired so much in people who heard about it; including Michael D himself! The boats themselves are beautiful; crafted with skill and patience and this in itself is an inspiration. The project showed us all that in four weeks you can change attitudes and achieve an unbelievable amount.

Lizzy is an illustrator, based in London, who graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2009. Her work is inspired, primarily, by a need to tell stories but also by folk culture, music and the places in which she finds herself. She is one half of independent publishers Sing Statistics who make nice books for nice people.

You can read interviews with Lizzy about her work and process here and here and more recently here. She was also selected as one of It’s Nice That’s Graduates 2009 you can read the interview that accompanied that feature here

The Illustration was created by James Kirwan who has a great sense of Ireland and what makes it paradise. For a closer look head over to this product in our shop here

The full illustration in black and white can be seen on our home page

Hold written on one set of knuckles and Fast written on the other was meant to give a sailor good grip in the rigging.

A Rope tattooed around the wrist meant that a seaman is a deckhand.

A tattoo of an Anchor told that a sailor had crossed the Atlantic, or was part of the Merchant Marines.

Crossed Anchors on the webbing between the thumb and index fingers marked a bos’n’s (or boatswain’s) mate.

A Nautical Star or Compass Rose was given so that a sailor could always find her way home.

A Harpoon marked a member of the fishing fleet.

A Full-Rigged Ship displayed that a sailor has been around Cape Horn.

A Dragon signified that a sailor has served in China.  A Golden Dragon was given when a sailor crossed the International Date Line.

A Shellback Turtle or King Neptune was earned when a sailor made it across the Equator.

Guns or Crossed Cannons signified military naval service.

A Sparrow or a Swallow tattoo would go to a sailor for every 5,000 nautical miles they traveled–a swallow because it can always find its way home.

A Dagger Through A Rose meant a sailor was loyal, and willing to fight anything, even something as sweet as a rose.

During WWII, a tattoo of a Pig and a Rooster was worn to prevent a sailor from drowning. When pigs and roosters were boarded on boats they were put in crates that floated and subsequently, often ended up the only survivors of wrecks. Crosses on the Soles of one’s feet warded off hungry sharks.

courtesy of bowsprite

  Photography Sean Breithaupt

Julies work along with many other artists, designers and makers, will be selling a selection of work at, Block T, Smithfield, Dublin 7, this weekend.

The sales exhibition will run on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of December from 11am to 6pm at Block T, 1 – 6 Haymarket, Smithfield Square, Dublin, 7.

“With all the recent, fiery controversy between evolution, creationism, intelligent design, science, religion, the political left, right, etc., I thought it might be provocative to throw my visual two-cents into the ring. The images beg the question, “is it really so difficult to believe we came out from the sea millions and millions of years ago?”

– Ted Sabarese

Excellent stuff… well done Ted.
Check out some more of his work here www.tedsabarese.com

A young man under orders from his chiropractor to take up swimming for the benefit of his back. He goes through the motions like a surly teenager until one week he meets a girl who offers him advice on improving his technique. As our young hero becomes more proficient at swimming he grows more confident. He is clearly smitten with his unofficial tutor though we are unsure of her feelings towards him and this is where the drama grows within the story.

A beautifully paced book, low on dialogue its the illustrations that draw you in. They are in a word, stunning. Almost all of the book is set in a swimming pool, so if your like us and dig those delicious Aqua marines tones you’ll love this book.

It is a book of gentle observations with a thought provoking anti-hollywood ending.