‘There definitely is a move to support local and handmade’

Not many shops anywhere, I'd wager, can boast that all of their products are made within a 20-mile radius or so.

With sustainability and shopping local coming to the forefront more and more since the pandemic, House of Craft at Main Street, Ballymahon, has proved a treasure trove for shoppers looking for one-off handmade goods from local craftspeople.

Here you'll find everything from bog moss art to essential oil car diffusers, jams and honey, to eye-catching ceramics, knitwear, patchwork and jesmonite pieces, to name just a couple. Its unique selling point is that all the items are made in the wider Ballymahon and South Longford area, taking in Athlone and Mullingar, supporting over 30 local craftspeople.

With no markets during the pandemic, and no craft shop in the area, several crafters came together, set up a committee and came up with the idea for a retail outlet to showcase and sell their goods.

Open since October, it is run on a non-profit basis, much like a co-op after the committee took out a year-long lease on the premises.

“Everyone rents shelf space and that covers the rent of the building, public liability insurance, the heating, bank charges that sort of stuff so the shop doesn't make money and the crafter gets 100% (of the value of the pieces sold),” explains Alison Bray from Sonas Aromas who makes candles and diffusers, and is part of the committee. She runs the shop on a voluntary basis with Thomas Lynam, a ceramicist.

“We spent the whole of September kitting it out (the unit), Thomas did this shelving himself,” Alison showed the Westmeath Independent, adding that he's not just a potter, he's the group's maintenance man!

“We've had a great response (from the public). We had a very good Christmas a very good October and November, we couldn't believe it,” added Thomas.

“There definitely was a move to support local and handmade, rather than imported,” added Alison.

This model has worked well so far for everyone, and the group would love to hear from more crafters from the South Westmeath area who are interested in getting stocked.

“I appreciate a bit of real craft,” Thomas said pointing to some knitting on sale in the shop. “I couldn't do it,” he laughs, adding that they want real handmade items, not pieces where people buy bits online and stick them together.

With no commission to shops, the group believes their pieces are very affordable, and there is something for every pocket.

“The majority of customers get it, and they come back,” he outlined, saying they don't know of any other shop in Ireland using this model only, without buying in other products. The group members took a risk initially, Alison pointed out, investing their own money but thankfully it has paid off.

Back in 2008, Thomas Lynam was working in gardening and the workload was getting too much for him. On a lot of tablets, and having panic attacks, his doctor suggested that he do something to destress and this was how he found pottery classes.

“Within six weeks I was throwing huge things. She said you're having me on, you've done this before. I hadn't and she recommended me for the course in Kilkenny with the Crafts Council.”

With two years of study done, he never looked back discovering a whole new talent and business. A more detailed look into his family history showed he came from a line of stonemasons with shows in London and Paris, so he joked maybe it wasn't such a surprise.

His beautifully crafted Christmas trees were a huge fit with shoppers in the run-up to the festive season, and he laughed that he had two kilns going full throttle to keep up with demand.

Alison started making candles with her sister, an aromatherapist, as a hobby just for themselves and friends or to give as presents.

“People came back asking could they buy more and then other friends of friends wanted to buy some, and that's how it started. I realised maybe we have a little business here. It's a love as well, a genuine love of making the products. I've always loved candles and scented candles but I like the natural that doesn't have any toxins.

All of Alison's products use natural essential oils and it can take three hours to make just six candles.

Among the other 33 crafters stocked include Ogham Treasures jewellery by Athlone's Katie McKay, bog oak sculptures by Patrick Lynch, Eamon Hand's honey, stained glasswork made by Helen Sexton, cards by Yellow Sheep Creations which are made by past Athlone IT student and Abbeyshrule graphic designer Christine Logan, photography by Maree Moran, slate by Chris Connolly, and Andru Mac Giollarí's bespoke chopping boards, and many, many more.

The group would particularly welcome new crafters working with metalwork, copper, leather, wood or gifts that would appeal to men.

Anyone interested in getting involved should email: houseofcraft@gmail.com