Mayo student recognised at Future Makers Awards

KIERAN McNeely from Achill Island has been presented with the Materials Support Award at the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s (DCCoI) Future Makers Awards, one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe for students and emerging makers.

The award, worth €500, was presented to Kieran - a second year student studying furniture design and manufacture at GMIT Letterfrack - at a ceremony in The Westbury, Dublin.

The Future Makers Awards and supports programme was established by DCCoI in 2009 to assist and invest in the next generation of Irish designers and makers at a key stage in their professional development.

At the presentation ceremony, the programme announced the 22 students and emerging designers and craftspeople who have received awards and supports totalling €23,500 through the organisation’s Future Makers programme. The certificates were presented by DCCoI Chair, Breege O’Donoghue.

Demonstrating traditional and contemporary techniques as well as imagination, innovation and skilful execution, the 22 successful applicants come from a broad range of disciplines, from glass making to fashion, ceramics to jewellery making, and from across the island of Ireland.