Millmount Cultural Quarter

Millmount Design Store

Millmount Cultural Quarter is well known for the Drogheda Museum and the Martello Tower which stands watch over the town. What may be less well known is the array of other services that are a part of life nowadays in the Square. There are numerous craft shops selling a huge range of quality locally-produced items and the popular Tower Wine Bar & Grill, as well as a satellite Regional Development Center; a joint initiative between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Drogheda Corporation among others, which houses their Incubation Units which offers support to various small enterprises.

The artists housed in the Cultural Quarter are all members of Louth Craftmark, a company set up to "promote creative industries including craft, art and design businesses and practitioners in County Louth." Craftmark products are available to purchase at numerous locations across Drogheda, in the Millmount Design Store, Wogans Furniture Store on Shop St. and The Highlanes Gallery on Laurence St. to name a few.

The Millmount Design Store was set up by local artists Mel Bradley (silk craft design) and Elaine Hanrahan (jewelry) and offers not only their own work but a range of Irish made craft products suitable for all occasions. The shop also incorporates Elaine's design studio so she is always on hand to offer advice and assistance. Visitors are made to feel welcome to peruse the beautiful works on offer and the store and studio stocks glass, pottery, wood, leather framed work, garden ceramics, precious & non-precious jewelry, rugs throws, silks, lamps, cards and candles. The Design Store is open Tues - Sat 10.00am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

There are a number of international and nationally known craft designers that call Millmount Craft Center home; Edmund McNulty, Mel Bradley, Maureen Finn and Elaine Hanrahan.




The Edmund McNulty Knitwear label was established in 1997 and specialises in a range of luxury designer goods, primarily men's knitwear ranges but also women's accessories and soft furnishings (knitted) for the contemporary interior. Based in Studio 7 in the Millmount Craft Centre, Edmund uses a combination of alpacas, kid mohairs, cashmeres and merino lambswool to create garments that have the distinct McNulty stamp of understated luxury. Subtle textures, garment construction and colours all play a key role in the development of each collection. His label is much sought-after in international markets, particularly in Japan, but luckily for Irish buyers his studio is open in Drogheda Mon - Fri 10.00am to 5.00pm. and visitors are most welcome to come in and browse through the rails. There are also many sample items and one-off pieces available at very reasonable prices.

Mel Bradley is a leading Irish textile designer and artist working with luxury fibres and fabrics to create customised interior and fashion products. For over 25 years Mel has been designing and creating everything from silk scarves to one-off art pieces to commissions, and she has also worked with established fashion designers such as John Rocha, Louise Kennedy, Richard Lewis and Jen Kelly. Perhaps a more widely known collection is her work with R.T.E. on the designing and painting of the large 'River God's Cloak' and numerous costumes for 'Riverdance'. Recently, Mel launched her new collection of hand-painted silk velvet & silk satin devoree scarves, evening wraps and cloaks in Temple Bar, Dublin; each piece a uniquely designed, elegant fashion accessory.

Mel also runs professional Textile Workshops for both the beginner and advanced artist/craft designer in her Gatehouse Studio in Millmount during the year. She also holds exhibitions in The Gate Gallery; for more info on upcoming workshops and exhibitions, see links at the bottom of the page.

Mel with her awards for 'Best New Product' & 'Buyers Choice' at the Showcase Exhibition in Dublin, 2006.

Maureen Finn has been based at Unit 10 Millmount Craft Centre for ten years, and works in clay. She produces hand built ceramics inspired by the weathered landscape and its contours, employing a method known as coil building. Her sculptural pots have a very organic influence and explore textures in nature using a mixture of oxides and glazes. Maureen also produces large figurative pieces that would enhance any garden or home. Each piece of work is unique, making them an ideal gift for family, friends or corporate bodies.
  

An example of Maureen's work, from the Louth Craftmark website 

Elaine Hanrahan has been making silver and gold jewelry at her studio in Millmount Craft Centre for many years. Inspired by the heritage of the Boyne Valley, she makes many pieces incorporating the spiral images found carved into the stone at Newgrange. Other more abstract pieces reflect the golden light of the winter solstice sunrise which fills the center chamber of the mound at Newgrange. Visitors are always more than welcome to call in and see her work at the studio which also incorporates the Millmount Design Store; open Tues - Sat 10.00am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm.







   





The square is finished off with the excellent Tower Wine Bar & Grill, which has probably THE best views in town for your money's worth. Opened in 2012 by the brains behind the Salthouse Brasserie, Justin Stubbs and Signe Ozolkaja, it boasts a fantastic seasonal menu and, as one commentator put it, "it balances elegance, intimacy and atmosphere with style and grace". They even have a designated kids playroom and their lovely bar downstairs is also available for functions.

View from the dining room of Tower Wine Bar & Grill

Whether it's fine dining, brushing up on your local history, or picking up the perfect gift for yourself or for someone else, Millmount Cultural Quarter has got something for everyone. So why not call up and visit?


Contacts:

Millmount Design Store: 041 9841960 or visit: http://www.millmountdesignstore.com/

Edmund McNulty: 041 9844199 or 086 371 4094 or visit: http://www.edmundmcnulty.com/

Mel Bradley: 041 9827200 or 086 371 2927 or visit: http://www.melbradleysilks.com

Maureen Finn: 041 9846065 or 086 323 8820 or email: finnmallon@eircom.net

Elaine Hanrahan: 041 98 41960 or email: elainejewldesign@eircom.net

Tower Wine Bar & Grill: 041 9873777 or visit: https://www.facebook.com/tower.winebarandgrill

Drogheda Museum Millmount: 041 9833097 or visit: http://www.millmount.net/ or like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Drogheda-Museum-Millmount/151415731656199

Louth Craftmark: http://louthcraftmark.com/