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“The Irish Craft Heroes initiative marked Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s fiftieth anniversary, supporting and celebrating makers since 1971.

As part of this, an outdoor touring exhibition trail and the Irish Craft Heroes publication was developed to celebrate 50 Heroes, 50 Champions and 50 Future Lights who have significantly contributed to the evolution of Irish craft over the last 50 years.

The beautifully produced hardback publication includes stunning images of their work, and a timeline of key developments over the years.

As DCCI faces into its second half century, this book is a rich and insightful compilation of Irish craft in all its forms, and of the many innovative people who have contributed to the ongoing evolution of our cherished traditions of craft and enterprise.”

Roger contributed two of the essays to this book, ‘Craft in a Changing World Part ll: 1995-2021’ and ‘Craft in a Changing World Part lll: The Future’. (The first essay, ‘Craft in a Changing World Part l: 1970-95’ was written by design journalist and craft historian Dr Eleanor Flegg.)


Written for the Craft Writers Group, an essay about war memorials in one of Dublin’s cathedrals.

Roger’s account of the life and career of Veronica Rowe, who has made a huge contribution to Irish craft over many years.

Roger’s profile of Irish woodturner Max Brosi.

(Included by permission of the American Association of Woodturners)

Roger's review of the Making In seminar at Joseph Walsh’s studio in September 2018.


In a piece written for the Craft Writers Group, Roger humorously describes the pros and cons of working on his own.

Roger's review of print maker Susan Mannion’s exhibition ‘Letting in the Light’ at the Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford, in September 2016.


A short essay, written for the Craft Writers Group, in which Roger describes how discovering craft changed his life.

Roger’s profile of Irish ceramicist Sinéad Glynn.

Roger's article about the life and work of Irish woodturner Emmet Kane, whose major retrospective 'A Journey...' is on display at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin, until early 2016.

(Included by permission of the American Association of Woodturners)

 

Roger's account of the week in June 2013, when twenty-two Irish and international wood artists worked feverishly to create a wood sculpture inspired by Irish dry stone walls. This extraordinary collaborative project, directed by Terry Martin, took place at Glenn Lucas's Woodturning Centre in Co. Carlow.

(Included by permission of the American Association of Woodturners; see also this YouTube video of the event) 

 

Written for the ‘My Place’ exhibition in the Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool, in 2012, in response to this request from the gallery:

“As this exhibition reflects the importance of an artist's physical working space and environment, it would be very helpful if you could send a brief statement (250-300 words) about how this is reflected in your work.”

Essay by Roger about the prize-winning Irish ceramist, Grainne Watts, creator of beautiful bowls and vessels and of deliciously impish fish and animal sculptures.

 

Roger's essay about the renowned Irish woodturner Liam Flynn: written for the catalogue of his monumental 2011 retrospective exhibition, curated by Eleanor Flegg, in the Hunt Museum, Limerick.

 

  • Bowl (Make Believe, 2011)

Essay by Roger about a holm oak bowl which he discovered languishing in a charity shop. This piece is a tribute to the artistic sensibility and skill of its maker, Ciarán Forbes.

Originally written for a special edition of the RTE radio programme Sunday Miscellany, in association with ‘The Year of Craft 2011', it was recorded in the Watergate Theatre as part of the official programme of Kilkenny Arts Festival 2011; the programme was originally broadcast on 28 August 2011, and repeated on 8 August 2021. To listen, click here.

The print version was published in the online craft publication Make Believe in 2014.