The Sinann Circle are proud to launch their second exhibition 'Place', created by an eclectic group of artists, craftspeople and designers based in the Leitrim region. Join us at The Leitrim Design House in The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon from 4pm on Friday the 4th July 2025 where you will have an opportunity to meet and chat with members of the Sinann Circle. Through their various disciplines, each individual maker responded to the theme ‘place’, reflecting on what it means to them. The group formed in 2020 and are supported by The Leitrim Design House as they continue to grow their individual practices and collaborate with each other on various projects.

Colette Langan is an accomplished glass artist with over 30 years of experience in the field. Her expertise in the conservation of medieval stained glass forms the foundation of her contemporary art practice at Langan stain glass. Colette’s work is rooted in a deep connection to place, particularly the River Shannon and her regular walks to Hartley Bridge. These walks have become a vital part of her daily practice, deepening her relationship with the land and enriching her understanding of the natural world. Drawn to the myth of Sionann, the woman whose quest for wisdom gave birth to the river, Colette created a stained-glass piece that honours both the legend and the spirit of all women who have dared to seek.

Erika Marks is a jeweller and goldsmith. After a career in Dublin, designing and making collections, she moved to the quiet Leitrim countryside in 2003. Some of her work can be viewed in The Leitrim Design House although she now works mainly to commission, specialising in pieces connecting directly to the client's own life and experiences. Erika has always had a fascination with maps and charts, and the ways in which abstract information can be represented visually. This piece shows part of the route taken by her parents when they toured Ireland in 1958. Her mother was pregnant with her when they drove past the house that Erika was to come to live in, 45 years later

Helena Golden is a Leitrim basket maker dedicated to preserving the traditional craft of weaving with willow, locally known as sally rods. Inspired by the landscapes of her home county, her work celebrates the deep connections between nature, creativity, and community. Through teaching, demonstrations, and workshops, Helena shares her passion for this heritage craft, encouraging people of all ages to explore their creativity, reconnect with the natural world, and embrace the wisdom of past traditions.. Her exhibiting work Éowyn: A Light Through the Storm is a sculptural lamp, crafted from locally grown, harvested, and hand-woven willow (sally rods) from Leitrim. It captures the raw, elemental power of place. Its base is a solid slice of beech, salvaged from a fallen tree in Drumhierny Woodland, uprooted by Storm Éowyn. As the light shines through, it recalls the power outages that left us in darkness, transforming this piece into a beacon of resilience, memory, and reconnection.

Catherine Gray is a visual artist based in Carrick on Shannon. She draws deep inspiration from her native surroundings creating vibrant and colourful artworks that reflect the natural beauty around her. Catherine combines fine art and textile techniques to produce unique and expressive pieces. Passionate about community and creativity, she frequently collaborates with others and facilitates workshops encouraging people of all ages to explore their artistic potential. Catherine also works to commission and her work is available through The Leitrim Design House.

Bairbre Kennedy created Lichen Ceramics in 2016, when she returned home to Co. Leitrim. Ceramics is earth turned into art. This work explores her personal connection to the River Shannon, where she grew up surrounded by protected wetlands and the rich birdlife they sustain. At its centre is a water-filled bowl holding tiny floating vessels, each made from wild Leitrim clay and displaying an inscribed drawing of a native bird. Four tree-trunk-like pots encircle the bowl, referencing the trees that shelter these species. Together, the installation reflects on place as something held in memory and material-shaped by landscape, species, and the quiet interdependence between them.

Edel McWeeney Moran and her husband Kevin Moran are the team behind EZxploring, which connects people to places through the creation of engaging walking trails, maps, and guides, developed in partnership with government agencies and local authorities. These free resources help direct visitors, newcomers, and locals to a wide variety of activities across 32 locations nationwide. All EZxploring products are proudly designed and printed in County Leitrim.

Fiona O’Driscoll from Sundew Crafts is a textile artist and craft maker living in Leitrim. Her knitted creations celebrate the natural world, the warmth of childhood and the wonderful variety of colours and textures in the world. Fiona uses soft natural fleeces from a local organic sheep farm to stuff the knitted animals, as the environment and sustainability are very important to her. She also enjoys creating knitted landscape pictures using naturally dyed Irish organic wool. Fiona’s work in this exhibition reflects the colours of the Leitrim countryside.

Cathy Reynolds is a visual artist working in a number of mediums - painting, collage and photography. She’s been living and working in the Leitrim /Roscommon area for over 25 year working on various projects with the community as an artist and art educator. For this exhibition the work was created on-site in Leitrim woodlands, resulting in a spontaneous, looser response to her environment than previous studio work.