Courses
I teach for a wide variety of groups, events, and organisations throughout the year, below you will find my self-organised group courses generally hosted in West Cork. If you are a group or organisation and would like to host me in your parish or visit for private tuition, please read below and do get in touch. Additionally I work in National Schools throughout the country through the Heritage in Schools scheme, teaching weaving, gardening, biodiversity, fibre arts, storytelling and other ancient arts, you can find my profile here. I look forward to working with you!
2024 and 2025 Courses
To read this in my course newsletter click here
After a busy, full and life-changing year of being on maternity leave, I am back to offering basketry courses! This year I will be offering weekend courses to allow for a more thorough and relaxed environment to sink into the depth and learning of this ancient art.
Harvest Hen Basket
Myross House (CECAS), Leap, Co. Cork
Saturday & Sunday
The 23rd and 24th of November 2024
10:00-16:00 both days
Although I have taught this basket many times, this is my first time teaching this basket ‘the proper way’ in a group setting. Two days allow for us to learn the techniques fully and make a larger and more well-made basket. We will make the hoops (that create the frame) for this basket using traditional techniques of curving, carving and joining whole rods for a beautiful finish. We will have the chance to play around with a wide variety of colourful willows so we can play with pattern. In this course you will learn all the basics of willow growing, preparation, frame baskets and weaving with willow. Complete beginners and advanced weavers welcome.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow
Maximum of 8 participants for small class size
€210 inclusive of booking fee
Round Shopping //Storage Basket
Ballydehob Community Hall, Co. Cork
Saturday & Sunday
22nd and 23rd February, 2025
10:00-17:00, both days
In this weekend course we will learn all about round baskets. If you are a beginner we will focus on the basics, if you have previous experience we can explore more advanced techniques. We will go over: willow growing, materials preparation, weaving a round base, slyping uprights, pull-down wale, three-rod wale, randing, designs and colours, borders, handles, and ‘feet’! There will also be opportunity to play around with various colours of heritage willow for patterns. An excellent and thorough introduction course for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the ancient techniques of weaving with willow or improve their understanding and knowledge of this ancient craft.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow materials fee
Maximum of 8 participants for small class size
€215, inclusive of booking fee
Harvest Hen Basket
Ballydehob Community Hall, Co. Cork
Saturday & Sunday
The 5th and 6th of April, 2025
10:00-16:00, both days
In this two days course, we will learn some techniques of frame basket baskets and weave this beautiful and well made colourful basket. We will make the hoops that create the frame for this basket using traditional techniques of curving, carving and joining whole rods for a beautiful finish. We will have the chance to play around with a wide variety of colourful heritage basketry willow to play with pattern. In this course you will learn all the basics of willow growing, preparation, hoop making, slyping, ribs, basic frame baskets techniques. Complete beginners and advanced weavers welcome.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow materials fee
Maximum of 8 participants for small class size
€215 inclusive of booking fee
Willow Star Workshop
Myross House (CECAS), Leap, Co. Cork
Saturday
7th of December 2024
10:00-13:00
Join us for a morning of weaving a colourful willow star that can be used to decorate your Christmas table, as an ornament for your tree, a piece for the wall, or a gift for a loved one!
In this three hour workshop, we will have a introduction to the ancient art of weaving while making our own timeless creation and working with heritage varieties of Irish willow. Each participant will be able to make at least one star.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow
Maximum of 10 participants
€45 inclusive of booking fee
Willow Garden Structures
Ballydehob Community Hall, Co. Cork
Saturday
8thth of March, 2025
10:00-16:30
In this one day course, we will learn all about different types of garden structures. Each participant will get to make at least two structures to bring home for their garden. We will learn at least two different styles of garden structures—one for plants to climb up and one ‘cloche’ that can act as a mini poly-tunnel or a little structure for plant to support their heavy heads of flowers. We will learn the traditional ‘irish twist’ weave that is perfect for plant supports and learn various styles and techniques that suit gardens and plants well. You will go home with at least two structures, and the knowledge of how to weave and improvise with various materials to weave beautiful and strong structures for your garden.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow materials fee
Maximum of 8 participants for small class size
€110, inclusive of booking fee
Round Baskets Galore!
CECAS, Myross House
Leap, Co. Cork
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
The 11th-13th of April, 2025
10:00-16:30, all days
In this intensive three day course we will dive into all things round baskets! This is suitable for complete beginners and well seasoned weavers—with many options for each. Over the course of the three days each participant can expect to make 2 baskets in various styles. If you are a complete beginner I would recommend beginning with a tray, skib or bread basket the first day and then working on a shopping basket or storage basket the next two days. For more experienced weavers, one can weave a curvy shopping basket, storage basket, laundry basket or log basket. The world is your lobster. We will go over: willow growing, materials preparation, weaving a round base, curving and slyping uprights, pull-down wale, three-rod wale, randing, designs and colours, borders, lids and handles! It will also be opportunity to play around with various colours of heritage willow for patterns. An excellent and thorough introduction course for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the ancient techniques of weaving with willow or perfect for more experienced weavers to learn more techniques.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and materials fee of heritage willow
Maximum of 8 participants for small class size
€320 inclusive of booking fee
Willow Platter Workshop
Myross House (CECAS), Leap, Co. Cork
Sunday
The 8th of December 2024
10:00-13:30
In this morning class suitable for all abilities, we will weave our own willow platters from colourful varieties of heritage Irish weaving willow. These make a beautiful platter for the table, a drying rack, hotplate, and a fantastic Christmas gift for a beloved.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow
Maximum of 10 participants
€70 inclusive of booking fee
Round Shopping //Storage Basket
Ballydehob Community Hall, Co. Cork
Saturday & Sunday
22nd and 23rd March, 2025
10:00-17:00, both days
In this weekend course we will learn all about round baskets. If you are a beginner we will focus on the basics, if you have previous experience we can explore more advanced techniques. We will go over: willow growing, materials preparation, weaving a round base, slyping uprights, pull-down wale, three-rod wale, randing, designs and colours, borders, handles, and ‘feet’! There will also be opportunity to play around with various colours of heritage willow for patterns. An excellent and thorough introduction course for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the ancient techniques of weaving with willow or improve their understanding and knowledge of this ancient craft.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow materials fee
Maximum of 8 participants for small class size
€215, inclusive of booking fee
St. Brighid’s Harvest Basket
CECAS, Myross House
Leap, Co. Cork
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
9th-11th of May
10:00-16:30, all days
In this three day course, we will take a deep dive into the intricacies and techniques of making strong and beautiful frame baskets. This course is suitable for beginners and improvers, each participant will learn how to weave a beautiful and sturdy frame basket with a beautiful St. Brighid’s cross at the side made from skeined (split) willow. In this class we will cover willow growing and preparation, hoop making from 9ft+ willow, splitting willow and skein-making, frame basket basics, and traditional willow weaving techniques, all while working with different varieties of heritage basketry willow. One will have the option to work with colourful varieties of willow and go home with their own timeless basket. Each participant will get to weave at least one basket, with the possibility of beginning a second in the same style or learning another style of frame basket.
Organic tea, coffee and homemade treats provided
Inclusive of tools and heritage willow materials fee
Maximum of 8 participants
€320, inclusive of booking fee
Private Tuition
If you have a particular project in mind, would like to learn or improve certain techniques or would prefer more focused attention, I offer private one-to-one tuition at my workshop near Bantry in West Cork. If interested, please e-mail me at contact@wildrosebasketry.ie
Private Groups or Events
If you would like to host a basketry course, please do get it touch! I can offer 2 hour-full day workshops for groups of any size.
Heritage in the Schools
If you are a primary school teacher or have a child in primary school, I offer subsidised school visits through the Heritage Council in teaching ancient arts through the Heritage in the Schools scheme—click here for more info.
