'Legacy - Craft Masters'

'Legacy - Craft Masters'

Offaly Local Development Company’s "Legacy" Traditional Skills Training Programme aims to recognise and record Masters of their Craft in Co. Offaly.

Offaly Local Development Company is excited to announce its 'Legacy - Craft Masters' initiative to celebrate the traditional skills masters of the County. The programme highlights the significance of these skills in our cultural heritage and aims to ensure their continuity for future generations.

The "Legacy" traditional skills programme acknowledges the importance of traditional crafts and the need to keep them alive in our rapidly evolving society. It seeks to revolutionise the perception and appreciation of these crafts in Offaly and beyond. By bridging the gap between the past and the present, the programme offers a series of training workshops and events throughout Offaly.

The primary objectives of the "Legacy" training programme are:

• Preserve Traditional Skills: Identify and safeguard traditional skills and crafts that are at risk of being lost in time.
• Facilitate Learning and Appreciation: Provide individuals with opportunities to learn and appreciate traditional skills, fostering a sense of pride and respect for our heritage.
• Revitalise Traditional Skills: Bring traditional skills into the modern era, promoting their relevance and ensuring their sustainability for future generations.

As part of our commitment to celebrating the extraordinary talents of Offaly’s traditional skills masters, we will produce a series of short documentaries that showcase the best of Offaly's traditional crafts people. From weaving to carpentry, textiles to pottery, and all other traditional crafts, these documentaries will highlight the incredible skills of artisans who are preserving Ireland's rich cultural heritage.

However, we need your help! We invite you to contribute and nominate individuals who are skilled and knowledgeable in traditional crafts. Whether they are exceptional weavers, skilled textile designers, shoe makers, or experts in any traditional skill, we want to hear from you.

Nominees will be considered for inclusion in our short documentary project, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talent and ensure a professional recording of their skills for future generations.

To nominate someone, please send an email to contact@craftlink.eu with the nominee's name, contact information, and a brief description of their traditional skill. Please submit nominations by Sunday 29th October.

For more information about the "Legacy" training programme or the documentary project, please visit www.traditionalskills.ie

This project is funded through the Leader Rural Development Programme by Offaly Local Development Company.