Our Story

I opened The Craft Shop in 1974 and, almost 50 years later, it continues to showcase the work of many of the original craftspeople with whom the Craft Shop has been associated. Colleen, my daughter, now works alongside me in the shop, discovering new artisans, and bringing her own style to the shop.

For nearly half a century, we have had the pleasure of sourcing and selling the most beautiful artisan crafts made in West Cork and further field in Ireland. From the potter’s wheel, the coppersmith’s hammer, the jeweler’s dexterous hands, we gather things we love, and pass them on to future generations.

West Cork has always been a welcoming place for artists, artisans and craftspeople. Our shop gives their work a portal to the wider world, welcoming people to enjoy and appreciate their skills. Our shop is also our workshop, as we are constantly re-arranging, re-sourcing, and re-newing the crafts. We strive to create our own aesthetic, inspired by the originality and brilliance of the pieces we sell.

In all the pieces we source, you will see and enjoy the culture of craftsmanship. Craftsmanship names an enduring, basic human impulse – the desire to do a job well, and to create something enduring, and something of beauty.

We love welcoming people into our shop in Bantry, browsing, perusing, taking pleasure in the delight that these beautiful things bring to our lives. And if you can’t make it to Bantry, we hope that our site gives you a true sense of the work we sell, and we look forward to posting the crafts you choose, wherever in the world you may be.

Christine

 "Handmade crafts are like nothing else in the whole world, they can tell a story, elevate a space and change a mood. The Craft Shop is here because we love what we do everyday, the people we meet, whether its craftworkers or customers.” 

Colleen