An Ceardlann - A Place Where Magic Happens: On Saturday Valerie Hughes brings The Wagon Wheel to the beautiful village of An Spidéal. Valerie broadcast live from An Ceardlann Craft Village and Cafe as they mark their 40th year in the business of creating and crafting. Join Valerie from noon on Saturday 20th for an afternoon of great Country Music, tune in or call by to see where the magic happens and for a chance to win some unique prizes supplied by the talented people working in An Ceardlann.
An Ceardlann, an Spidéal, an áit a dtarlaíonn draíocht os comhair do shúile. Tá an Cheardlann ag fás agus ag forbairt ón am a bhunaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta í i 1984. Deacair le creidiúint go bhfuil cuid de na ceardaithe céannna fós ann, agus iad fós i mbun a gcuid ceirde.
Tá an-tóir ag muintir na háite agus ag turasóirí ar an Ceardlann agus ar an gcaifé álainn, An Builín Blasta, a bhfuil neart gradam gnóthaithe bainte amach acu. Is féidir suí istigh ar do chompord, nó taobh amuigh le do phicnic, ag breathnú amach ar Chuan na Gaillimhe.
Spiddal Craft Village & Cafe a place where magic happens. A weaving, painting, mixing, baking, moulding, printing, colourful type of magic. The best part is, you can see the magic with your own eyes in their workshops where artists create authentic, traditional, one-of-a-kind pieces of craft and art.
Based in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht, at the Spiddal Craft Village & Café you can meet the artist and watch them work while you shop for unique treasures, perfect to cherish or as a gift. Basket weaving, painting, pottery, screen printing, and more, there really is something for everyone. Some of our artists even have classes and workshops.
Based 20 minutes from Galway City on the scenic Wild Atlantic Way with sweeping views of Galway Bay, a beach on its doorstep, shopping and great food, the Spiddal Craft Village & Café is a must see on your trip to Connemara. Can’t make it to Connemara? Check out each of the artists profiles and visit their online shops to bring a bit of Connemara to you.
Bígí linn don deireadh seachtaine má tá tú sa gceantar!
More about the Artists and Crafts people
Andrea Rossi is a brazilian artist and illustrator with a love of all things irish and nostalgic. In 1999 she graduated as a Graphic Designer and Fine Artist in Sao Paulo city where she grew up. Today that love can be seen in her work where she often references old Connemara, and rural life in the West. She also draws inspiration from vintage children’s books, and brazilian Naive/ Folk Art. Her work is vibrant and uplifting.
She had various group and solo exhibitions including Westport Art Festival, Clifden Arts Festival and Feile na Ceardlainne to name a few. She is a member of Cúl anTí, an active artist group in the Gaeltacht region. Andrea also illustrates books, products and welcome commissions!
Builín Blasta Café & Bakery is passionate about great food, café culture, and offering something a little different. The café provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere that is family-friendly, dog-friendly, wheelchair-accessible, and, above all, friendly to everyone who visits.
Specialising in wholesome, flavourful comfort food that caters to a wide range of dietary requirements, Builín Blasta is committed to quality at every stage. Their breads, cakes, and pastries are freshly made in-house, while a selection of homemade products is available to purchase both in the café and online. All dishes are prepared fresh to order, ensuring the highest standards of taste and quality.
The team places great importance on sourcing the finest ingredients, working directly with many local suppliers whenever possible. By using high-quality local produce, they strive to deliver an authentic taste of the West to every customer.
The menu features a variety of traditional Irish and European favourites, including freshly made soups, sandwiches, salads, savoury tarts, and hearty main courses. Those with a sweet tooth will find plenty to tempt them at the dessert counter, which is filled daily with freshly baked scones, cakes, tray bakes, and other delicious treats to enjoy in the café or take home.
In addition to dine-in service, the full menu is available for takeaway, and Builín Blasta also offers speciality cakes and catering for events and special occasions.
Celtic Coin Jewellery creates a distinctive range of jewellery and sculptural pieces, combining diverse materials including silver, copper, brass, Bog Oak, and Connemara marble. Their signature collection is inspired by Irish coins first introduced by the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann) in the 1920s and used throughout Ireland until the arrival of the Euro. By incorporating original Irish coins into their designs, customers can often find their birth year on a piece, making each item uniquely personal. The collection includes cuff links, golf ball markers, brooches, and a variety of other handcrafted pieces.
In addition, Celtic Coin Jewellery offers an elegant selection of Claddagh, engagement, and wedding rings. Complementing their jewellery range is a premium collection of Celtic and fashion leather belts, bags, and wallets from Lee River Belts, renowned for their quality craftsmanship and style.
An Spailpín: Since 1979, An Spailpín has been hand screen printing in our workshop in Spiddal, in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. From the beginning, the aim was clear: to bring the Irish language into everyday life in a way that felt modern, visible and wearable. What started with badges, stickers and T-shirts has grown into a wider collection, but the idea remains the same.
The Irish language runs through everything they do. They don’t use it because it’s in fashion. They never did. It’s been part of An Spailpín from the start, part of their DNA.
All of their design and screen printing is done in-house, with craft at the centre of the process. Working from An Ceardlann Craft Village, they continue to develop new designs while staying rooted in the place and language that shaped them. Today, alongside their own products, their shop brings together a wider range of Irish language and Gaeltacht-inspired goods, for locals, Irish speakers, and visitors who want to bring a piece of that culture with them. That’s how Spailpín started. And that’s how it will continue.
Geraldine O'Rourke: Since 1996, she has worked as a mixed media artist, driven by a fascination with combining different materials, textures, and colour to create layered and expressive artworks. Throughout her career, she has experimented with a wide range of techniques and approaches, continually exploring new ways to develop her practice.
Her current work is inspired by the familiar landscapes of Ireland, which she interprets through drawing, photography, and painting, often bringing these elements together using digital processes.
Experimentation remains central to her work, allowing her to push creative boundaries while blending traditional and contemporary methods. Alongside her original artworks, she also produces and sells a range of cards and prints from her studio.
Rob D’Eath: has worked as a potter and exhibition curator in Sliding Rock Contemporary Ceramics, Spiddal since 1984. He has, throughout this time, dedicated himself to developing the culture of ceramics in the West of Ireland through teaching, mentoring and the curation of exhibitions. He is chairperson and a founder member of Clay Galway. For more check out www.slidingrockceramics.com
C Beauty by Fiona Coyne in Spiddal Craft Centre is a slower world of beauty, wellbeing, and ritual. C Beauty is a unique treatment space, a calm sanctuary where skin, self-care, and soul connection come together. Founded by Fiona Coyne, holistic facialist, makeup artist, and skincare formulator with over 20 years of experience, the space was created to help women reconnect with themselves through intentional beauty rituals that feel both luxurious and grounding. At the heart of the experience is FLÓRAITH Skincare, handmade Irish skincare collection formulated by Fiona in An Ceardlann. Inspired by nature, feminine energy, and ancient Irish mythology. Every product is crafted in small batches using cold-pressed oils, botanical extracts, and sensory ingredients chosen to nourish the skin while creating moments of pause within everyday life. Fiona is known for her signature “skin-to-soul” facials and natural romantic makeup for brides, treatments that blend sculpting, lymphatic drainage, gua sha, breathwork, and nervous system support to leave clients feeling lifted with a beautiful glow to finish radiant skin. Alongside treatments, the studio offers their wellness shop of handcrafted skincare, wellness rituals gifts, and carefully curated pieces that reflect the atmosphere of the space.
Ciarán Hogan is a traditional Irish master basket weaver and artisan based in County Galway, Ireland. He operates his studio and retail shop, The Sally Garden, out of An Ceardlann, an Spidéal. Ciaran is recognized as one of only a handful of full-time professional basket makers remaining in Ireland keeping this ancient heritage alive. Ciaran is a second-generation craftsperson, son of the renowned master basket weaver Joe Hogan. Together, they manage a dedicated willow farm, harvesting their own willow rods annually to supply their respective workshops. His creations blend utilitarian functionality with artistic heritage. Some of his specialty willow products include: Connemara turf baskets and heavy-duty log baskets, Traditional skibs (potato baskets) and bread baskets, Intricate rope-weave bowls and shopping baskets. Ciaran also hosts highly sought-after public craft courses. Attendees consistently praise his patient, individualistic approach to teaching the complex mechanics of willow weaving.
Together, the businesses of An Ceardlann reflect the creativity, language and craft traditions that continue to thrive in Conamara today.
