Donegore Craft Fair helping to revive traditional skills

Four members of the family-owned business will encourage the public to try their hand at a skill that was once one of Northern Ireland’s most popular pastimes.

The Glen Gallery uses natural yarns and holds regular workshops attended by people from as far away as the Shetland Isles.

Marilyn Ferguson, one of the owners, said: “We are really trying to encourage people to take up knitting again. There is a big revival in interest but we would like to get more young people involved.

“We have a knitting club that meets every Thursday and people come along to have a chat, knit and have a cup of tea. It’s a great social occasion,” she added.

A number of other traditional crafts including willow-weaving, and wood-turning will also be on display as the Landscape Centre in Donegore holds its second annual craft fair on Saturday, August 27.

From 11am to 4pm there will be a series of demonstrations of country crafts from top artisans, as well as bulb and autumn planting advice from the centre’s expert gardening staff.

And children and adults alike will love the celebrity scarecrows that have been dotted around the centre from the start of August and will jump at the chance to guess their identities.

Owners Kaye and John Campbell have again opened up their wonderful flower garden to the public during August and it is currently looking its summer best.

There will also be a chance to take a walk along the centre’s beautiful nature trail or climb its famous Moat to appreciate one of the best views in Northern Ireland.

Kaye Campbell said: “Gardening and traditional crafts go hand in hand and I hope the public will have an enjoyable time at Donegore, appreciating the skills of these wonderful craftspeople, picking up some valuable gardening tips and savouring the local, homemade delights of our coffee shop.”

During the fair, renowned Willow Weaver, Clive Lyttle, who owns Welig Crafts near Portaferry, Co Down, will demonstrate how to make traditional and contemporary Irish baskets.

Clive is one of the top willow weavers in Northern Ireland and from grows his own willow from his small-holding. He also makes garden furniture and teaches traditional countryside skills such as dry stone walling.

The craft fair also features the distinctive and highly original jewellery of Jennifer Anne Shaw, who runs Cornucopia4U from her home in Crumlin.

Jennifer specialises in designing and making “Limited edition” and “One off” jewellery items, using a combination of crystals, semi precious stones, natural materials and traditional beads and findings. She makes a range of pieces including earrings, bracelets, necklaces and jewellery sets.

While attending the craft fair, the public can also pay a visit to the wonderful Leadlines Stained Glass Studio and view the work of master glass painter, David Esler or enjoy a walk around historic St John’s Church with its evocative cemetery containing the remains of some of Donegore’s most renowned citizens including poet and artist Sir Thomas Ferguson.

For more information about the Landscape Centre in Donegore go to www.donegore.com or ring 028 94 432175.