12 November 2015
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
A Cork midwife who has channelled her caring abilities into her own range of jewellery with healing properties, will appear at the City Hall Crafts and Design Fair, Cork, from November 26-29.
Over €150,000 per day will be spent at the Cork Fair which will feature more than 60 stands manned by the best of contemporary crafts and artisan food producers from all over Ireland.
The country’s biggest crafts fair outside Dublin, the City Hall Crafts and Design Fair traditionally heralds the start of the Christmas season in Cork.
Barbara Hall from Cobh has been using freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones to shape her own hand crafted designs for the last seven years.
“The semi-precious stones I use in my sterling silver bracelets necklaces and earrings also have healing properties,” said Barbara.
“Turquoise traditionally protects, pearls soothe and it’s said that the deep blue lapis heals the neck and thyroid areas.
“I guess I’ve been involved in the caring profession since I was a child helping to deliver calves on my dad’s farm in Cavan.
“I’ve studied general nursing and have been a midwife for the last 20 years. I never thought about the healing properties in my jewellery being another facet of my link with healing until now.
“I studied jewellery design in St John’s College in Cork but most of my work is self-taught with a lot of practice.”
Barbara who has a new website, barbarahallcreations.ie, is also an acclaimed artist, specialising in land and seascapes using oil paint as a medium.
Cork crafts producers are heavily represented at the Fair, with Amanda Murphy Ceramics, Ba Goose Fleece Company, artist Annabel Langrish and Diarmuid Neilan from Ekotree Knitwear among the featured local exhibitors.
“The Fair gives a vital economic stimulus to the crafts and design industry in the Munster region with an estimated spend in excess of €150,000 per day,” said Festival organiser Patrick O’Sullivan.
“Shoppers will find a wide range of crafts, artisan-made goods, food and drink, designer handcrafted outfits and accessories at the Fair.
“This year we have a lot of new content with many first-time exhibitors showcasing the best of new crafts and food from around the country.
“There are lots to look out for, including Tipperary’s Anne O’Leary who has returned from Canada with her high-end silks, award-winning stained glass producer Bianca Divito from Wexford and Jane Ryan’s fashion illustration and paintings just some of the highlights.”
Admission is €5 and full details are available from www.cityhallcraftsfair.ie.
