In March 2025 Kilkenny County Council Arts Office invited proposals from artists across the country to devise and deliver a project which would engage with our community raising awareness about the textile industry and the circular economy. We were seeking to engage artists to work with locals in creating artworks that highlighted the importance of sustainable practices in the textile industry, to promote dialogue around sustainable textile practices and engage participants in processes and making, enabling conversations and sharing of knowledge and skills.
The project objectives are to:
- Educate the community about the principles of the circular economy in textiles.
- Motivate changes in behaviour.
- Encourage and teach skills and knowledge around sustainable practices such as recycling, upcycling, and responsible consumption.
- Inspire creativity and innovation in the use of textile materials.
- Foster community engagement, conversation and collaboration.
Kilkenny Arts Office had already identified a waste stream that would form the basis of the materials for the project. i.e. we have an existing stock of interior design fabrics, such as fabric sample books, in a variety of materials, such a tweed, sofa upholstery, heavy cottons, we also have curtains and other fabrics, such a denim. We also had contacts to enable us to source further fabrics / materials if necessary.
Essentially the proposed project will (both as part of its process and outcome(s)) influence, educate and encourage participants, but also make a statement about the damaging effects of the wider textile industries on our environment for the public at large.
From this InFlow was developed, a project led by collective Arran Murphy, Jeni Roddy and Lynn Haughton. Join us for this dynamic Climate Action Artistic project where you’ll dive into the world of textiles! Explore and learn wonderful skills like Embroidery, Weaving, Decorative Stitches, Fabric Manipulation, Natural Dyeing, Sashiko, and Repair Techniques and more…
As part of the project you will create your own personal upcycled items and will also contribute to a final collective creative outcome to share with the wider community.
Each workshop will not only teach you these creative techniques but also shed light on the Textile Industry’s impact on our waterways. Plus, enjoy inspiring visits to the beautiful River Nore to reflect and connect with nature.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn new textile techniques, connect with others and blend your creativity with nature and environmental awareness!
Deadline to book Friday 30th May
Dates: Stream 1: Saturdays – June 7th to July 5th
Venue: St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall
Times: 11.00 – 2.30pm
Dates: Stream 2: Saturdays – July 12th to August 16th (with a break for the August bank holiday weekend)
Venue: St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall
Times: 11.00 – 2.30pm
Participants can sign up for Stream 1, Stream 2 or indeed join us for both
Subsidised cost: €50 per stream
BOOKINGS: Email deirdre.southey@kilkennycoco.ie
PARTICIPANTS MUST COMMIT TO ALL 5 or 10 SESSIONS
PLACES ARE LIMITED SO EARLY BOOKING IS ADVISED
InFlow is part of Kilkenny County Council, Arts Office’s community and climate action 2025 programme. It is a textile-based project exploring the impact of the textile industry on the world’s waterways. Led by three circular textile creatives, Lynn Haughton, Jeni Roddy and Arran Murphy, and using the River Nore as a source of inspiration and connection, participants will create several upcycled pieces developed using textile waste streams locally identified.
Over the course of the project the group will explore a variety of creative textile techniques and will learn about ways to counteract the impacts of the textile industry’s misuse of water resources through conscious change in the re-use and re-imagining of textiles. Echoing the flow of the river the group will meander towards a final collective creative outcome to share with the wider community in Kilkenny.
About the Artists:
Arran Murphy is a designer, maker and facilitator working in sustainable textiles, costume design and community arts and education. She has designed for numerous theatre, dance and street performances including the St Patrick’s Day Parade, CoisCéim’s Broadreach Programme, Dance Limerick’s Step Up Programme, The Dockers and Demons Festival, Mario Rosenstock’s Gift Grub Live Show, Hope it Rains, Drowned Galway, Galway 2020, as well as for several of contemporary dance company, CoisCéim’s recent productions including Body Language, In The Magic Hour, Palimpsest, Dancehall Blues and Go To Blazes, for which she was nominated for Best Costume Design in the Irish Times Theatre Award 2023. Arran is also the Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion, the circular textile social enterprise based in the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy and is the head judge of the Relove Fashion Competition, a sustainable fashion competition for teenagers. She is passionate about empowering and inspiring people to change their relationship the fashion industry by encouraging them to explore their creativity and expand their sewing and repair skills.
Lynn Haughton is an Irish designer and environmental advocate whos work focuses on transforming waste into worth. She is the founder and creative force behind The Upcycle Movement, a multi-award-winning design studio and community initiative. Lynn creates product collections from retired materials – most notably is her Neo Collection – a line of bags and accessories crafted from upcycled wetsuits, of which a percentage of proceeds she donates to Seal Rescue Ireland. She also creates thought provoking textile art installations and sculptures. Beyond her design work, she is dedicated to education and advocacy, leading workshops and talks in schools and community groups that inspire individuals and businesses to explore opportunities in upcycling and circular design.Her work has been featured in The Irish Times, Farmers Journal and on RTE and she has had work displayed in IMMA. Lynn has worked on many collaborative projects such as with National Gallery of Ireland, Siemens Gamesa and Irish Rail. Lynn’s dedication and innovative approach to her work has earned her recognition in both environmental and creative communities, positioning her as a leading voice in sustainable design in Ireland.
Jeni Roddy has worked for twenty years as an interdisciplinary artist and designer in collaborations producing live content through the mediums of theatre, film, live event and performance art. She works with textiles, nature and the body and looks at how these intersect. Concerned with how we can live responsibly and responsively in our localities and globally, being mindful and creative in our daily lives. She was Head of Costume for Wexford Festival Opera for four seasons and has designed many Award Winning Productions. In 2020 she completed a three year project for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture as a co-curator of Weatherproof Me, co-designer of Drowned Galway and lead artist of Umbrella Orphanage.
