Yes! Children aged 8 -12 are welcome to accompany an adult for free. Message Alison to arrange.

Sunday, May 5

A Foraging Stroll Up Killiney Hill & Eco-Printing With Irish Linen

Spend a wholesome afternoon in nature - gathering leaves, taking in spectacular sea views and getting crafty with plants and Irish linen.

By Alison Nea of Modh Textiles

Select date and time

Sunday, May 5 · 1 - 3pm GMT+1

Location

Killiney Hill Tea Rooms

Killiney Hill Road Dublin Ireland

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

About this event

Join me for a wholesome afternoon foraging in nature with spectacular sea views ending with a fun eco printing session in a local pub. Create your own textile print from oak and blackberry leaves on authentic Irish linen and bring it home as a decorative piece of art or wear as a trendy scarf!

Our journey begins at the base of Killiney Hill, a beloved public park nestled beside the quaint seaside village of Dalkey. Only half an hour from the city, these woodlands are well worth a visit and you will earn great insight from me as a deep-rooted local!

I will guide you through the woods as we gather leaves to be used in our eco printing session. After a leisurely hike to the Obelisk at the top of the hill, take in dazzling views of Dublin Bay and its mountains...I might even point out a few tree tops from the backyard of a certain U2 frontman’s humble abode!

Our foraging trip will end back at the base of the hill in the cosy and picturesque Druids Chair Pub, where I will lead you in the centuries’ old technique of eco printing. The natural pigments from the plants are released onto the textile, capturing the intricate details, dyes and unique shape of the leaves. You will create a one-of-a-kind design that is not only beautiful but also friendly to the environment. Each piece is a reflection of the natural world and the colours and patterns found in it, making them truly special and meaningful. A superb way to create a lasting reminder of a day well spent in nature and by the Irish sea.

A very happy group with their finished eco print creations!

Making our way through the woods to forage for leaves

Arriving at the Obelisk at the top of Killiney Hill

Stunning views of Dublin Bay

A collection of oak and blackberry leaves to be used for eco printing on Irish linen

Preparing the linen and leaves for eco printing

Carefully placing the leaves on the linen creating a unique design

Irish linen eco printed with the natural dyes of blackberry and oak leaves

A fininshed linen eco print displayed as a wall hanging

A fininshed linen eco print worn as a stylish scarf

A finished linen eco print turned into a gorgeous nature inspired cushion cover

Organized by

Alison Nea of Modh Textiles

Alison Nea is a textile designer from Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin and the founder of Modh. Her practice originated from a profound passion for textiles, coupled with an insatiable curiosity for the art of creating vibrant colours and captivating prints straight from mother nature. With a background in costume design for film and theatre, Alison discovered her niche through a desire to create textiles that worked with nature rather than against it.

Alison’s work is primarily centred around experimenting with foraged plant life. She creates textile art and original, repurposed, wearable pieces that blur the boundaries between functional clothing and visual art. The driving force behind her practice draws from concerns of fast-paced, contemporary life and offers space to take a step back to appreciate and respect the natural world.

In 2022, Alison embarked on a mission to start sharing her natural dye knowledge and created a workshop tailored to give people a chance to experience a small part of the exciting world of foraging for plant dyes and using them to transform textiles into works of art. As a resident of Dun Laoghaire, she decided that Killiney Hill would be the perfect scenic spot to take people on their foraging route. A truly wholesome way to spend an afternoon!