Updated / Wednesday, 9 Sep 2026 15:56
Ireland’s top crafters, makers, and designers were celebrated today at the Future Makers 2026 Awards at Trinity College Dublin, hosted by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI).
Divided into student and emerging practitioner categories, the Awards cover a wide range of disciplines and offer each winner a mentoring package valued at €1,000.
This year’s competition saw an exceptional lineup of talent from across the country, with shortlisted entries spanning furniture to fashion design and ceramics to glassblowing.
The Future Makers Awards were judged by an expert panel featuring Standing Ground couturier Michael Stewart; curator Julia Ravenscroft; performance artist Leah Capaldi; textile artist Brankica Zilovic, and master potter Jack Doherty.
In the end, the initiative named Donegal jewellery maker and goldsmith Catreeney Harkin as the 2026 Overall Emerging Maker Winner, and Wicklow textile maker, Ailbhe Beatty, as the Sustainable Design winner in the Emerging Maker category.
In the Student & Recent Graduate category, fashion designer Roberts Zujans from Limerick was named the Overall Winner, while Camille O’Connell, a textile maker from Waterford, won the Sustainable Design Award in the same category.
Additionally, the ceremony honoured the legacy of filmmaker David Shaw-Smith, whose Hands documentary series captured the skill, heritage, and spirit of Irish craftspeople, through The David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award.
The recipient was chosen by curator Mary Gallagher, stained-glass artist Peter Young, and painter and printmaker Daniel Shaw-Smith.
The prestigious award, which supports master craftspeople in the later stages of their careers, was awarded to Jane Murtagh, an artist metalsmith from Co. Clare.
In addition to this, the five shortlisted makers will each receive €2,000 in project support funding.
Future Makers Award Emerging Maker Winners:
Sustainable Design Award Winner in Emerging Maker Category + Winner – Studio Support: Ailbhe Beatty, Textile Making, Co. Wexford
Overall Emerging Maker winner + Winner – Travel and Training: Catreeney Harkin, Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing, Co. Donegal
Winner – Travel and Training: Ashley Shak-Penn, Textile Making, Co. Dublin
Winner – Studio Support: Ciarán Gell, Furniture Making, Co. Dublin
Winner – Exhibition Support: Clodagh Molloy, Jewellery Making, Co. Dublin
Winner – Travel and Training: Eva Lynch, Silversmithing / Hollowware, Co. Wicklow
Winner – Exhibition Support: Hannah McGrenera, Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing. Co. Cork
Winner – Studio Support: Marta Ozog, Ceramics, Co. Dublin
Winner – Studio Support: Vinh Truong, Ceramics, Co. Dublin
Future Makers Award Student & Recent Graduate Winners:
Sustainable Design Award Winner in the Student & Recent Graduate Category: Camille O’Connell, Textile Making, Co. Waterford
Overall Student and Recent Graduate Winner + Winner – Materials: Roberts Zujans, Fashion Design, Co. Limerick
Winner – Professional Development: Alex Lambe, Fashion Design, Co. Meath
Winner – Travel and Training: Anna Cali, Fashion Design, Co. Dublin
Winner – Travel and Training: Filip Hrubec, Furniture Making, Co. Galway
Winner – Professional Development: Axel Jordan Nieto Calvino, Furniture Making, Co. Galway
Winner – Travel and Training: Daniel Fahy, Fashion Design, Co. Dublin
Winner – Travel and Training: Eimear Malone, Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing, Co. Carlow
Winner – Materials: Eoghan Prunty, Furniture Making, Co. Wicklow
Winner – Materials: Eoin Dalton, Furniture Making, Co. Clare
Winner – Materials: Evan O’Toole, Fashion Design, Co. Dublin
Winner – Professional Development: Isabel Robinson, Furniture Making, Co. Kilkenny
Winner – Materials: Kate Murphy, Jewellery Making/ Goldsmithing, Co. Galway
Winner – Materials: Patrick Orr, Furniture Making, Co. Dublin
David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award Winners:
Overall winner: Jane Murtagh, Metalwork, Co. Clare
Recipient of project support funding: Bernadette Tuite, Ceramics, Co. Cork
Recipient of project support funding: Shane Holland, Multi-media Sculpture, Co. Meath
Recipient of project support funding: Martha Quinn, Stone Sculpture, Co. Sligo
Recipient of project support funding: Stevan Hartung, Furniture Making, Co. Wicklow
Recipient of project support funding: Michael Andrew Ray, Glass / Ceramics, Co. Cork
