The woodlands and mountains where west Waterford merges gently with east Cork hide a significant and growing band of highly skilled craftworkers. This is the season when a rare opportunity arises to assess their collective work, as they converge on the historic seaside town of Ardmore, Co Waterford, for an exhibition that has become widely appreciated as an annual showcase of Irish craft talent.
The show in Mary Lincoln's Ardmore Pottery studio explodes the myth that you must travel to one of the big annual craft fairs in Dublin to see a representative cross-section of the best work being produced nationally.
This Christmas craft fair in the tiny village was introduced 10 years ago by Mary and Richard Lincoln, and they were told they were crazy to think it could succeed there.
"Who ever heard of city folk travelling to the country to do their Christmas shopping? Well, they did, and it was a great success," said Ms Lincoln, whose own cobalt-blue speckled earthenware is a feature of the display.
The Lincolns have a policy of stocking and supporting only quality Irish craft products. That policy is no limit to the diversity of the fair: this year up to 140 Irish craftworkers are represented.
The craftsmen and women of the immediate region are among the most original and accomplished exponents in the line-up. Eye-catching examples are the hand-painted natural silk pieces by Anne O'Leary, of Clashmore; the intricate jewellery made by Felix Faulkner at Knockanore; and Alison Trigg's eerily hyperrealistic plaster ornaments made at Glencairn, near Lismore.
There are beautifully painted wildlife mobiles by Ben and Bridie Brittain, of Old Parish, Dungarvan, stylish three-legged stools made by woodturner Tim Froude, at Aglish, and cheery earthenware mugs turned out by Eleanor Hand at Lismore. Batiks by Bernadette Madden are based on the striking stone-carved panels at the nearby cathedral ruins on the site of the monastery established by St Declan, it is believed, in the year 406 AD.
From the rest of the country come goods crafted in glass, ceramics, leather, metal, wood and wool. Ms Lincoln said Irish people should open their eyes to the range of Irish craft products: "There is amazing stuff being made."
She admits that the average craftworker, generally working alone, does not have the re sources to maintain his or her own retail outlet. "The good craftworkers in Ireland are all extremely busy. There is no way we would have this shop open but for the fact that our workshops are here and we are here."
"But we can justify being open in mid-November. People will travel to you if they know you're open."
A former teacher in Dublin, she discovered the attractions and satisfaction of craftworking by chance and worked as an apprentice in Dun Laoghaire Art College. A regular holiday visitor to Ardmore when young, she moved there after marrying a local man and started her pottery operation with a tiny workshop.
The shop was extended into part of their living quarters last year, and she now employs a fulltime co-worker, Catherine Fitzgerald, in the pottery. The Lincolns' two teenage daughters help out in keeping the retail outlet open year-round.
Meanwhile, the Ardmore Enterprise Co-op, in which Richard Lincoln is involved, has advanced a number of development projects for the village. Its efforts have led to the installation by the county council of disabled access to the beach, the boat cove has been widened and a community association to provide social support to the elderly has just begun work.
There are continuing efforts to improve visitor access to Ardmore's major historical and archaeological features, such as the impressive round tower and cathedral, and St Declan's Oratory.
Ardmore's population of 350 expands to some 4,000 for the summer season, but facilities such as the craft shop are now drawing visitors to the village at all times of the year. The Christmas craft fair is open daily up to and including Christmas Eve.