In 1963, the Irish Government established the Kilkenny Design Workshops in the restored Castle Yard at Kilkenny Castle. Their ambition was simple but visionary: to help Irish makers, designers and manufacturers compete on the world stage through exceptional design, innovation, and craftsmanship. The Workshops became a place where creativity met commerce. Designers worked alongside craftspeople, traditional skills were reimagined for a new generation, and Irish products found new audiences both at home and abroad. It marked the beginning of a movement that would shape modern Irish design.

More than sixty years later, that purpose continues to guide us. We work directly with the people who make the pieces we sell, champion emerging and established Irish makers, and remain committed to celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit that have defined Kilkenny Design from the very beginning.