BASKETRY FESTIVAL 2020

The Irish Basketmakers Association (IBA) are delighted to announce a Basketry Festival in Derry/Londonderry.

The festival will take place in St Columb’s Park House on May 8th/9th/10th 2020 and will include exhibitions, talks, a pop-up shop, demonstrations, workshops and sculpture in the park.


We are thrilled and honoured that some of our renowned makers (including Joe Hogan, Alison Fitzgerald and others) hope to attend the festival to talk to us about aspects of their own experience

Creel made by Joe Hogan, as part of the heritage collection

The IBA are custodians of the Irish Heritage Collection of baskets which was put together by Joe Hogan while writing his book “Basketmaking in Ireland”. Joe’s aim was to preserve traditional skills and techniques and the collection is now a resource available to basket makers interested in examining and making these indigenous baskets. This collection will be on display at the festival.

FLOW by Hanna Van Aelst

Basketmaking has evolved from the purely functional to include more artistic / non-functional, imaginative work. Some fine examples of woven work from our very talented makers will be on display in our contemporary exhibition.

Both functional and non-functional woven work will be on sale in our pop-up shop over the weekend with an opportunity to talk to some of the makers who will take on the role of shopkeeper.

Curlew sculptures by Brendan Farren

St Columb’s Park House is nestled in a beautiful historic park and we plan to enhance that beauty with the help of the public by creating some sculptures in the park. The creation of these sculptures will be led by some of our IBA members over the course of the weekend.

As well as the sculpture in the park we will have some of our makers holding free demonstrations of various weaving techniques throughout the weekend, an opportunity not to be missed if you want to learn the techniques involved in making a dragonfly / bird feeder / sunflower.

The schedule for the festival will be as follows:

Friday 8th May 2020
St Columb’s House Main Hall
17:00 – 20:00 Contemporary Exhibition of the work of Irish Basket Makers
19:00 – 20:00 Exhibition Opening with formal welcome by Chairperson and guest speaker.
St Columb’s House Foyer
17:00 – 20:00 Exhibition of Heritage Collection of baskets.


Saturday 9th May 2020
St Columb’s House Main Hall
10:00 – 18:00 Contemporary Exhibition of the work of Irish Basket Makers.
St Columb’s House Foyer
10:00 – 18:00 Exhibition of Heritage Collection of baskets.
St Columb’s House Small Conference Room
10:00 – 18:00 Guest Spearkers / Short Demonstrations / talks about willow and weaving.
Large Conference Room 10:00 – 18:00 Shop selling members produce.

St Columb’s Park 10:00 – 18:00 Sculpture in the Park with open invitation to the public to participate.


Sunday 10th May 2020
St Columb’s House Main Hall
10:00 – 18:00 Contemporary Exhibition of the work of Irish Basket Makers.
St Columb’s House Foyer
10:00 – 18:00 Exhibition of Heritage Collection of baskets.
St Columb’s House Small Conference Room
10:00 – 13:00 Guest Speakers / Short Demonstrations / talks about willow and weaving.
Large Conference Room
10:00 – 13:00 Shop selling members produce.
St Columb’s Park 10:00 – 13:00 Sculpture in the Park with open invitation to the public to participate.
Large Conference Room 14:00 – 16:00 IBA AGM

Monday 11th May 2020
St Columb’s House large Conference Room
10:00 – 17:00 Bee Skep making with Louise McLean
Note: This workshop is only available to paid up members. To book your place please email info@irishbasketmakers.com

Accomodation is available at the house from Thursday evening for £17.50 pppn with full board available for £35.45 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner). Please email info@irishbasketmakers.com (priority will be given to organisers, exhibitors and members)