Irish invasion: Ireland’s designer-makers set up shop at Heal’s

The Irish are coming to London, with 20 designer-makers showcasing at Heal’s this month. It’s being hailed as the biggest retail presentation of Irish-made design in the capital for decades, and features some of the country’s best furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles and glass designers.
Highlights include monochrome scarves and cushions by Mourne Textiles, a family business set up in 1940 in a workshop at the foot of the Mourne mountains by Norwegian design pioneer Gerd Hay-Edie; as well as wares from Joe Hogan, who has been making baskets since 1978 from willow grown at Loch na Fooey, where he is based.
Newcomers include potter Arran Street East, whose hand-thrown pieces are inspired by Dublin’s Markets Area; and Superfolk, who make simple tableware, such as ash and oak trivets.
'Design Ireland' is born of past exhibitions organised by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) at Tent London during London Design Festival.
After being decimated by Ireland’s financial collapse, the country’s designer-makers are now thriving, with DCCoI’s registered clients increasing from 1,701 in 2009 to 3,214 in 2016.
'We are experiencing a period of great creativity and innovation in Irish design businesses, and we are producing world leaders,' says Karen Hennessy, chief executive of DCCoI, which has worked with Heal’s on the event. 'We are a resourceful nation, and after years of austerity and recession we are ready to take on the world and shine a spotlight on Ireland’s creative talent.'
Highlights include monochrome scarves and cushions by Mourne Textiles, set up in 1940 in a workshop at the foot of the Mourne mountains. Pictured: ’Monochrome VI Shaggy Dog Cushion’ in handwoven tweed and 100 per cent Merino wool, by Mourne Textiles
Joe Hogan has been making baskets since 1978, from willow grown near his home in Loch na Fooey
Newcomers to the fair include Arran Street East, whose hand-thrown pottery is inspired by Dublin’s Markets Area. Pictured: ’Pomegranate’ espresso pots (left) and ’Cauliflower’ water jug (right), by Arran Street East
Mugs and pourers in pink grapefruit, by Arran Street East
Superfolk, who make simple tableware such as ash and oak trivets, are also new to the fair. Pictured:
oak trivet, by Superfolk
Pictured: beech trivet, by Superfolk
INFORMATION
'Heal's Design Ireland' is on view until 27 March. For more information, visit the Heal's website
ADDRESS
Heal's
196 Tottenham Court Road
London, W1T 7PJ
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Clare Dowdy is a London-based freelance design and architecture journalist who has written for titles including Wallpaper*, BBC, Monocle and the Financial Times. She’s the author of ‘Made In London: From Workshops to Factories’ and co-author of ‘Made in Ibiza: A Journey into the Creative Heart of the White Island’.
-
Willo Perron on his sound-inspired collaboration with Vans at Milan Design Week: ‘does frequency have an architecture?’
Launching Vans’ Old Skool 36 FM sneaker, the Willo Perron-designed installation at Milan Design Week 2025 was inspired by the invisible architecture of sound
By Simon Mills
-
Inside the world of Tapio Wirkkala, the designer who created masterpieces in remotest Lapland
The Finnish artist set up shop in an Arctic outpost without electricity or running water; the work that he created there is now on display at a retrospective in Japan
By Anna Solomon
-
Explore this new Lake Como villa and its powerful, cinematic views
A Lake Como villa by Tuckey Design Studio celebrates the history of its site and references the surrounding landscape through materiality
By Tianna Williams
-
‘R for Repair’ at London Design Festival displays broken objects, re-formed
In the second half of a two-part exhibition and as part of London Design Festival 2022, ‘R for Repair’ at the V&A displays broken objects, re-formed
By Martha Elliott
-
‘Finding quality through the act of making’: Pearson Lloyd celebrates 25 years of design
Pearson Lloyd’s show ‘Change Making’ reflects on past designs from its archives, showcasing the influences on and evolution of the studio, from furniture design to the NHS
By Martha Elliott
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experiments
Mushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
By Rosa Bertoli
-
Porro unveils new London showroom at Coal Office
London Design Festival 2022: industrial architecture meets pure geometries in the new Porro showroom, taking over a space within Tom Dixon’s Coal Office to showcase the brand’s systems and furniture
By Rosa Bertoli
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, Shoreditch
London Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
By Rosa Bertoli
-
Mudlarking beside the River Thames inspires The New Craftsmen’s makers
London Design Festival 2022: The New Craftsmen’s new collection, ‘Claylarks’, features work from a group of creatives inspired by a River Thames mudlarking expedition
By Mary Cleary
-
One tree, ten designers: SCP presents The One Tree Project at London Design Festival
London Design Festival 2022: SCP enlisted ten British designers to create furniture and objects from a felled ash tree from founder Sheridan Coakley's Hampshire garden
By Francesca Perry
-
London Design Medals 2022
London Design Medals 2022 are awarded to costume designer Sandy Powell, architect Indy Johar, researcher Joycelyn Longdon and photographer Sir Don McCullin
By Rosa Bertoli