A message from Jim West,
Managing Director

It is with great pleasure that I welcome all of you to the first annual INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND. For nearly two years, my staff and I have been diligently working in organizing what we feel is going to be one of the most exciting quilting events to happen not only Ireland, but in the international quilting community.

I think it is important to let you know, as the managing director, some of the unique facets of our program, and ask you to eliminate any expectations you may have, based on previous experiences with other festivals. I ask that you receive us with an open mind and quilter’s heart.

The festival we have created is completely outside the box in its design and unlike anything you have ever seen or experienced before, that I can promise.

Our Quilter's Village, located at National University
of Ireland, Galway campus

We have transformed the campus of NUIG and created a specially laid-out “Quilter’s Village,” redesigning the buildings, classrooms and restaurants to offer a unique setting for this festival to take place. As you stroll around the village you will find Fat Quarter’s Chocolate Shop, the Wicked Thimble Pub, the Town Hall, our School House, the Round Robin Restaurant, a Craft Center, Celtic Tea Room a high-end restaurant called Stash.

We have even commissioned a theatrical set designer to create a façade that replicates that of an old Irish village from the 1600’s. This area is known as our Quilter’s Square. As you walk around the village, you are sure to run into our very charming mayor of the Quilter’s Village, the town crier announcing activities and events taking place throughout the day, and even Molly Malone as she walks around pushing her cart and selling fat quarters!

We have also decided we didn’t want to have a very congested vendors area where people are bumping into each other because it is so crowded. Instead, we have invited 50 specially chosen companies who will be offering their goods and services to you. There will also be a special area in the village called our “Quilter’s Market,” with two dozen local craft vendors selling specialized craft items.

And we realized a quilt festival wouldn’t be a quilt festival without quilts! You will find fourteen uniquely designed quilt exhibits offering hundreds of beautifully designed quilts. You’ll enter each exhibit and all of your senses will be activated. These exhibits are more of an “experience” instead of an observation. We felt it was essential that we designed our exhibits with an outside of the box approach instead of just hanging quilts on racks and having people come into a room and view them. So with our exhibits, you will actually be part of a theatrical presentation- some of them include actors, a set, music and even different aromas! All of your senses will be activated and your soul will be touched as you stroll from exhibit to exhibit.

I am very proud to include an extraordinary line up of celebrity teachers from all over the world. All of these teachers, their class projects and the times of their classes are posted on the festival website, so be sure you secure your space if you want to enjoy a class with one of them. I believe most classes will be sold out before the actual festival weekend!

With our festival here in Ireland, we are introducing two very special elements that the international quilting community has never seen. The first is a complete hands-on crafts program, including of course, traditional Irish crafts, from lacemaking and painting to feltmaking and pottery. There’s even an overnight trip to the Aran Islands for a special knitting workshop! Second, we are offering a non-quilter’s activity program, so those who are not interested in the quilt classes can enjoy some very special activities, from fishing and golf to cycling and pub crawls.

And no visit to Galway and the West of Ireland would be complete without offering some of the most incredible sightseeing and day trips you can enjoy during the festival weekend. Kylemore Abbey & Gardens, Brigit’s Garden, a boat ride on Lough Corrib and Ashford Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Connemara are all special places you won’t want to miss while you are here! Again, all of these can be booked in advance on the festival website.

I ask all of you to come to our festival not as a spectator, but instead come as a participant and enjoy all of the special things we are planning.

Two of the most exciting events I want to encourage you to sign up for are the Grand Reception taking place on the evening of June 7th. This is our “opening ceremony” for the festival and space is limited. I promise you, it will be one of the highlights of the entire weekend. The other is the very special Bunratty Castle medevil banquet and show. We have rented out the entire castle for Friday and Saturday evening, two shows, and I am certain this will be a very special evening for you as well!

Take some time now to explore every link on this website and my advice - if you see something you want to sign up for, do it today. Space is limited on all of the hands-on quilt classes, craft workshops, day trips and other events, so secure your spot before it becomes unavailable.

A “festival” by definition is “an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community.” We have designed this festival as a celebration, and we have invited the entire international quilting community to come and celebrate with us in the beautiful city of Galway, Ireland.

The first annual INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND will be the buzz of the quilt industry in June, so become part of history and don’t miss out!

Jim West