Funding granted to Roscommon craft designer
Claire Downey, Chief Executive, Rediscovery Centre, with Eibhlin Fitzpatrick, Community Liaison Manager, Circular.ie, revealing the winners of Circular.ie’s Circular Communications Grants, which sees €100,000 in funding directed at circular community groups and organisations throughout Ireland. Photography: Conor Healy / Picture It Photography
A local craft maker has been awarded €1,000 under Circular.ie’s Circular Communications Grants.
‘Michelle Made This’ is based in Roscommon and designs and creates handmade gifts, homewares, dolls and more.
The Circular Communications Grants, funded by the Government of Ireland under the Circular Economy Fund, supports projects that are advancing circular living, strengthening community engagement and helping to build a more sustainable future across the country.
Maker Michelle describes herself as a compulsive home maker and DIYer. When she’s not making she loves sharing her creative and business skills through workshops, both at her cottage and online.
Michelle has a love for all things vintage and old and a growing desire to keep her crafts as eco friendly as possible. She loves making beautiful things simple and simple things beautiful and showing you how to do the same via her social media channels, blog and workshops.
Michelle returned to Ireland from London and New York in 2008 and lovingly renovated her granny’s cottage. She’s no stranger to power tools and has done most of the work herself, documenting much of it via her social media and blog. She loves rummaging in charity and second hand shops, online auction sites and antique markets for DIY projects and upcycles. When she’s not shopping she’s foraging the hedgerows for greenery for her infamous tablescapes.
After being shortlisted for a social entrepreneur award Michelle has a keen interest in keeping her crafts as green as possible going forward. She has worked with Roscommon County Council on numerous projects including Green Cleaning and Green Christmas. She has appeared on television several times on RTÉ Nationwide, Four Live, Ireland AM and Eco Eye. She has also featured in Irish Country Living, Farmers Journal, House & Home and Prudence Magazine.
She was one of 40 organisations nationwide to receive funding under Circular.ie’s Circular Communications Grants.
Congratulating the winners, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD said: “This grant programme will help raise awareness of the innovative initiatives happening across Ireland and of those working to build a more sustainable future. We are proud to recognise their work and help them to increase the visibility of their activities and the significant role they play in building circular communities.”
