Ireland

Learn to make your own candles using beeswax from hives sited on the nearby Hook Peninsula. In this unhurried and story-filled workshop, discover the subtle qualities and remarkable health benefits of pure beeswax, and learn the techniques needed to make candles of your own.

This is an opportunity to take time out to immerse yourself in nature for the weekend. You will be shown how to recognize the materials that can be used to create a unique basket. We will experiment with different techniques such as cordage, braiding and plying which will transform your materials ready for weaving into your creation.

This workshop will teach you to spin yarn from a sheep’s fleece, as well as dyeing yarn from plant material. Two dye pots will be simmering during the day so that two colours will be shimmering by the end of the course. While the dye-pots simmer, you will learn to sort, tease and spin a woolen yarn on a drop spindle.

Join lithic expert Witold Migal of the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw, Poland for a hands-on workshop. You will be able to find proper raw material for making stone tools and understand their use. Experience different knapping methods such as direct percussion with a hard and soft hammer and the basics of the punch and pressure technique.

Umha Aois 2018 - Sounding the Bronze Age in Kerry

Manufacture your own shave horse from native greenwood. The shave horse is the most versatile of all greenwood workers devices.

ALL COURSES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE- MINIMUM NUMBERS APPLY

The processes involved in making iron/oak gall ink and quill pens will be demonstrated and practised during this course. Participants will be shown how to make ink monoprints. They will also examine the historical evidence for the use of quill and gall ink with references to further learning.

All participants will bring home a quill pen and a small bottle of gall ink.

This course involves the building of mortared walls using lime, including setting foundations, cutting corner capping stones, mixing lime, pointing of stone and after care.

€200 per participant

This course will be repeated on 13th & 14th July 2019

This one day workshop is aimed at both complete newcomers to the craft of basket weaving and also those who have a bit of experience and would like to improve their skills. Make a small basket and learn about the growing, harvesting, storing and preparation of the willows for working.

€80 per participant

This one-day course is an introduction to the Austrian scythe and the many benefits of using one to manage grass meadows. You will learn how to set up the scythe, to mow comfortably and to sharpen the scythe blade with a whetstone. Bring you own scythe or buy an Austrian scythe on site.

This course will be repeated on 15th June 2019.