Members News

Seamus Cassidy wins prestige award at the RDS National Crafts Competition

Seamus Cassidy one of Meath's gifted craftsmen has won 2nd Prize in the Woodturning category awarded from the RDS National Crafts Competition.

The RDS National Crafts Competition in its present form has been held annually since 1968 to promote Irish craft and design. Growing in stature each year, it is the major Irish crafts industry competition, allowing both professional and amateur craft designers to exhibit and promote their work.

This image is Seamus' winning piece.
“Image courtesy of the RDS. Photograph by Denis Mortell.”

 There are 20 categories and over 40 prizes awarded in the Competition ranging from ceramics and jewellery to felting and woodwork. The prize fund is one of the largest in Europe, with a total fund in 2007 of €28,350. The competition is open to craft workers living in Ireland and Irish designers based abroad.

An exhibition of winning entries and works of excellence from the RDS National Crafts Competition and the RDS Student Art Awards travels to a number of venues around Ireland from August to December each year in order to promote the artists and designers to a wider audience.

2007 Exhibition Dates:
RDS National Crafts and Student Art Opening Exhibition: Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, August 8 - 12, 2007, RDS Concert Hall. The Exhibition continues for a further four days after the Horse Show concludes.

RDS National Crafts Competition Winners Exhibition   
Space CRAFT, Belfast, Co. Antrim  September 6th -29th
Craft Granary, Cahir, Co. Tipperary  October 9th -30th
Mullingar Arts Centre, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath  November 6th -5 th
National Crafts & Design Fair, RDS Main Hall  December 5th-9th