Our Story - Ár Scéal
Discover the story behind Wearable Wood Galway, where contemporary design combines with traditional skills to bring you unique pieces that carry their own story.
Where it happens
Our handcrafted wooden jewellery, bespoke artworks, functional objects, are made in our own studio in Galway.
Our Process
Using woodturning, traditional woodcraft, digital design, laser engraving, and hand finishing we create contemporary pieces influenced by the culture and landscape of the west of ireland
We use various kinds of wood, including locally sourced timber, reclaimed wood, and sustainable materials to make our pieces.
Pieces are enhanced with engravings of Irish seanfhocail, celtic knotwork, well known images like the Galway Hooker boat, and the salty windswept landscape of the West coast.
From handcrafted wooden brooches and engraved jewellery to bespoke charcuterie boards, sculptural artworks, and commemorative pieces, each piece of work is guided by the natural grain, texture, and character of the wood itself.
About Annette
Originally from the Claddagh in Galway, I grew up close to the salty sea air and quiet power of the Atlantic. I’m fascinated by the way nature leaves its mark on everything in its path, from wind-shaped trees and driftwood to the rocks and old wooden boats in the Claddagh Basin.
After many years working in other fields, I followed a long-held ambition to become an artist. Studying at the Centre for Creative Arts & Media in ATU, I graduated with a degree in Contemporary Art before going on to complete a Masters in Creative Practice.
My sculptural installation work is shaped by an interest in lived experience, shared histories, and transformative life events. Combining my vsion with design, digital processes, and fabrication techniques, I create work that invites reflection and conversation. This same approach continues through the pieces we create at Wearable Wood Galway.
About Tom
I began my career training as a glassblower with Galway Crystal, where I developed an appreciation for the creativity of human hands in the process of making. Although my career later took me in many different directions, I always held onto a strong connection with woodcraft, so returning to creative practice through working with timber felt like a natural path to follow.
I’m continually exploring and refining my skills, especially in woodturning, which complements the range of techniques I use in my work. Each piece begins with the wood itself. I’m guided and inspired by its grain, shape, and character, and one of the things I enjoy most is uncovering the unexpected details and qualities that naturally emerge when I work into a new piece of timber.
How Wearable Wood Galway began
Wearable Wood Galway grew from a shared passion for making and creating a new chapter in the west of Ireland. With backgrounds in art and craftsmanship, we returned to what mattered: working with our hands, exploring ideas through art, and creating pieces that blend modern design with heritage
Inspired by the natural landscape and Ireland’s rich culture, our work is inspired by language, memory, and familiar forms, from Irish seanfhocail to the sails of the Galway Hooker boats. In our studio, we combine traditional handcraft skills with modern fabrication techniques, allowing the character of the wood and the story within each piece to guide what we make.
Every piece is individual. Through natural wood grain, meaningful Irish sayings and simple imagery, we craft work that feels contemporary yet rooted in culture. Our collections include one-off commissions, customised pieces, and small batches designed for wearing, display, everyday living, and connecting with people, place, and story.
OUR CRAFT - Seamlessly introducing cúpla focal gaeilge into everyday life.
Our creative process involves research, design, and making beautiful forms that blend Irish heritage with contemporary form. Seamlessly introducing cúpla focal gaeilge into everyday life.
Seanfochail: connection, heritage, and emotion
A wealth of old Irish sayings enrich the language with an emotional weight that goes beyond their literal meanings. The Irish seanfochail Cuisle mo chroí means 'pulse of my heart' is inscribed on a simple wooden brooch, best worn on the left side of a sweater, coat or shawl. Similarly, Grá (love), accompanied by a celtic love knot is engraved on a piece of timber jewellery, subtly communicating the emotion of that beautiful word.