This Dublin pop-up is bringing together some of Ireland’s most exciting makers
It’s the perfect place to pick up meaningful gifts, or add something special to your own home.
As our offices are around the corner on Leeson Street I have been cycling past the beautiful renovation of Iput’s Wilton Park for months now and have been dying to have a good snoop in. I will admit I was mostly drawn to the super cute little doggy park they have included in the restored one-acre park out front, but the buildings behind are pretty easy on the eye too – so tastefully presented with beautiful stonework and architectural attention to detail.
The development is soon to be home to LinkedIn, Stripe, and EY, with new street level restaurants set to open soon, in addition to three new artist studios, and a writer-in-residence apartment, which is a lovely touch.
The new space is named Mary Lavin Place, in honour of the beloved writer who lived just behind in Lad Lane for most of her life, and to honour the canal-side locale known as Baggotonia’s long association with Irish writers and poets (Seamus Heaney, Brendan Kennelly and Patrick Kavanagh were all regularly spotted in the area). It does come as a bit of a shock to learn that this is in fact the first public space in Ireland to be named in honour of an Irish female writer.
But making it all the more apt as the perfect location for Form & Fable, a design and craft pop-up that will be in residence in the space from 12th November to 21st December. For the next six weeks this is where you will find the most beautifully curated collection of Irish glassware, textiles, ceramics, furniture and more.
Anike Tyrrell and daughter, Ava Kelly, of J Hill’s Standard are the creative driving force behind the enterprise, and you immediately sense their elevated aesthetic and exacting standards as soon as you walk in. With work by an impressive array of Ireland’s most talented makers all so tastefully and thoughtfully displayed.
Participating makers read like a roll-call of Irish design talent (and IMAGE Interiors favourites), including: Amo Kilfeather, Andrew Ludick, Atelier Owlfeather, Bernadette Tuite, Brookfield Farm, Ceadogán, Dunn Bladeworks, Ellie Dunne, Erica Devine, Fermoyle Pottery, Fingal Ferguson Knives, Hugo Byrne, OntheSq x The Tweed Project, J Hill’s Standard, Jack Smith Woodturner, Jennifer Slattery Textiles, Jessie Smith, Kathryn Davey, Marcus O’Mahony, Martin Marley, Mourne Textiles, Non Violent Cutlery, Peter Sheehan Studio, Richard Hearns, Richard Malone, Rosemarie Durr, Sam Gleeson (This is What I Do), Shop The Garden, Sidereus, SisterBrother, Superfolk, We Make Good. Interiors furniture provided by Nordic Elements.
Founder, Anike Tyrrell explains their motivation behind the pop-up. “By welcoming some of the country’s finest craft and design talent we wanted to give people the opportunity to buy pieces for their homes or their friend’s homes that remind them that craft and design is a key part of Irish culture and identity. Whether it is a simple elegant bud vase or an intricate handwoven wool rug, Form & Fable gives visitors this Christmas the chance to celebrate and support the nation’s craft and design talent.”
While her daughter, Ava Kelly, director of J HILL’s Standard adds, “In the ten years since we founded J Hill’s Standard marrying imaginative contemporary designers with dedicated craftspeople, we have been fortunate to discover the most incredibly talented makers and designers making beautiful things with an honesty of purpose. With Form & Fable, we are working to create a place that serves to broaden our and other Irish makers’ access to and connection with the Irish market. For many retailers, 80% of their sales are in the final quarter but as it stands there is very little representation of our goods in retail spaces.
“The market is growing and learning here, we want to be part of that growth and help to shape it to support the brands that are making similar honest efforts. By making Form & Fable more than a retail experience with a series of workshops, demonstrations and other events we want to support the wider industry, develop a community and foster understanding. This will allow visitors to discover why Irish craft and design is rightly celebrated worldwide.
“Fable refers to the importance of providing our market with the understanding of why what we do matters, of the impact they have when they choose us over mass production, and the impact craft can have on their own lives, when put into their own hands. It refers to the position of craft heritage as part of our national identity, both from a historical context and a more diverse, contemporary multicultural perspective.”
Form & Fable will also be hosting a number of workshops, talks and events throughout the pop-up period. All bookable events can be found here.
J Hill’s Standard present Form & Fable at Mary Lavin Place, Wilton Park, Dublin 2. D02 FX04. 11am to 6pm Wednesday to Sunday (close at 4pm Sunday), with late opening on Thursday night until 8pm. Runs from 12 November to 21 December 2025.
To sign up for maker and event updates and for more information visit: formandfable.ie and follow on Instagram @jhillsstandard @form_fable.
Photography: Mark McGuinness
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