Ailbhe Gerrard from Brookfield Farm Hiveshare is among the Tipperary makers in the sporlight at the Gifted Contemporary Craft and Design Fair in Dublin's RDS from December 5th-10th.

Local exhibitors at RDS craft & design fair

A Tipperary sustainable farmer will reveal how hive sharing is the new ‘buzz’ word in Christmas gifts at the Gifted Contemporary Craft and Design Fair in Dublin’s RDS from December 5th-10th.


Gifted celebrates the best over 600 Irish designers and makers from fashion to jewellery and beyond.


Record-breaking crowds of over 45,000 are expected to generate more than €1m per day in sales at this year’s largest-ever six-day fair.


Ailbhe Gerrard from Brookfield Farm Hiveshare, near Nenagh, ditched her job as a London construction project manager to live with 60,000 bees on her 75 acre sustainable farm.


Honey lovers who opt in for the sweet deal will receive jars of honey, beeswax candles and lip balm, depending on their share size, as well as an invitation to visit and collect the honey from the apiary themselves.


“I retrained in sustainable development and in organic farming and saw the importance of bio-diversity so I decided to put hives on my farm and share them as I think the more you include people, the more they are interested,” said Ailbhe.


“The hive share protects the threatened bees and the beeswax candles are popular in homes as not only are they non-pollutant but they also purify the air.”


Ailbhe, who also used her construction skills to help rebuild schools in Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the aftermath of natural disasters, also dedicates two-thirds of her farm to forestry and wild flowers.


A number of local makers are taking part at the event, including jeweller Christina Keogh, fashion illustrator Jane Ryan, Rainbow Gear, The Scullery, Emerald Oils, Cooleeney Farm and Crowe Farm.


Among the others exhibiting are Irish Piedmontese Beef, Tipperary Kitchen, Lisduff Fine Foods, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers, Country Choice, Crossogue Preserves and Thomas Woollen.


Gifted is a celebration of the best Irish designers and makers – people who are truly gifted.


Formerly known as the National Crafts and Design Fair, Gifted includes top cutting-edge designers and makers in Irish fashion, ceramics and glass, jewellery, art and photography, children’s gifts and presents inspired by nature.


The event also includes a Spectacular Christmas Food Emporium featuring over 120 artisan food producers, taste-tempting visitors with the best of the season’s fare.


The growth in Ireland’s vibrant design sector means that Gifted has been expanded by an extra day to become a six-day unique Christmas shopping experience.
“Giving a Gifted gift to your loved ones this Christmas means that they will be receiving a special item straight from the maker,” said organiser Patrick O’Sullivan.


“We have the top cutting-edge designers and makers in Irish fashion, ceramics and glass, jewellery, art and photography, children’s gifts and presents inspired by nature.”


Gifted offers Ireland’s largest Christmas gift shopping experience with prices starting from as little as €5.


In addition, there will be 10% off everything at the Fair on the opening day, Tuesday, December 5th.


Gifted Contemporary Craft and Design Fair takes place at the RDS Main Hall from December 5-10 from 10am each day.  Full details and booking can be found at www.giftedfair.ie