RTE's Nationwide programme visits Kildare for feature on woodturning

The ancient craft of woodturning will feature on RTE's Nationwide next Friday, April 19^th at 7p.m.

Naas-based The Carpentry Store, features in the TV show with owner, Patrick Fay telling reporter, Mary Fanning how the growing popularity of woodturning saved his business. Woodturning is one of the very ancient crafts, dating back to 1,500 BC but it was in danger of becoming a lost craft in Ireland until it was revived 1983 with the establishment of the Irish Woodturners Guild

Nationwide filmed the store, based at the M7 Business Park, back in 2019 and returned there last month to cover the story of the Midlands Chapter of the Irish Woodturners.

The organisation has 18 guilds around the country and the Midlands Chapter, uses the classrooms in the Carpentry Store for its monthly demonstrations.

This year is a very special for the Irish Woodturners Guild celebrating its 40^th anniversary. To mark that, they commissioned the 18 guilds around the country to design a legacy piece from a block of Ash. A particular poignant theme given the threat to the tree due to Ash die back disease. The Midlands Chapter had seven pieces selected for the exhibition with the title, 'Turning turns 40' at Limerick's Hunt Museum and it then travels to venues around Ireland and to the UK.

Mary Fanning went behind the scenes with woodturner, Patricia Berns, based outside Naas, to see how her skills had improved over two years. "I was blown away by the comradeship and friendship, coupled with skills resulting in magnificent pieces that are works of art," the reporter said.

Nationwide also met Castledermot Woodturning world renowned artist, Emmet Kane, whose work is in demand all over the world.

Several Kildare woodturners feature in the TV piece which will be repeated on RTE +1 on April 19^th  having first aired at 7 on RTE 1 and on the RTE News Channel, the following weekend.

details of the exhibition can be found at www.iwg.ie