Explore the best craft workshops and experiences in Dublin

Media captionLearn from the experts at Silver Works.

Make your own silver ring at Silver Works

The best kind of craft workshops are the ones where you create something you know you’ll treasure forever. And that’s just what you get from a workshop in Silver Works on Drury Street. Over the course of two hours, you’ll learn how to forge your very own silver ring, under the expert eye of jewellery makers. You can choose from a few hammered textures and create your own custom piece, all while mastering an ancient craft. There are loads of other options, too – you can make your own Claddagh ring, silver pendant or bangles. And the best part? Whenever someone compliments your jewellery, you’ll be able to brag that you made it yourself. 

Media captionDesign your own piece of jewellery to bring home.

Throw your own pot with Dublin Pottery Making 

Ever fancied trying your hand at pottery? While many courses require a longer commitment, Dublin Pottery Making has a two-hour wheel-throwing workshop that’s perfect for beginners. You’ll get your hands muddy shaping your own pot – and do your best to resist the inevitable Ghost references. Once it’s fired and glazed, your piece is yours to take home. If you catch the bug, you can sign up for one of their four-week courses, where you’ll craft your own tea set or any other pieces your imagination inspires. 

Media captionThrow your own pottery with Dublin Pottery Making.

Paint with Dublin Pottery Painting

Don’t quite trust your clay-throwing abilities? A safer (and less messy) option is a casual, drop-in session at Dublin Pottery Painting, right next door. You’ll start by picking your piece, choosing between mugs, vases, jugs and quirkier items, then get to work painting it before the team take it to fire and glaze, ready for collection in a few weeks. If you do one of their evening sessions, you can bring some wine with you, too.  

Learn the pottery basics at Brookwood Pottery

Tucked away in Marino, Brookwood Pottery is a lovely shop showcasing work from a range of Irish ceramicists. If browsing isn’t enough, you can try your hand at pottery in one of their full-day Saturday workshops. With your own electric wheel and as much clay as you need, you’ll learn how to centre, cone in, throw and shape under expert guidance. At the end of the day, you’ll choose your two best pieces to be glazed and fired. For something more structured, their five-week evening courses offer a deeper dive into technique – and you’ll finish with around eight handcrafted pieces to take home. 

Take a course at Throwing Shapes

In Dublin 8, Throwing Shapes welcomes ceramists of all levels to their community ceramic studio. If you've never touched clay in your life, you can spin, fire and glaze a single piece with the Taster Class. If you've caught the pottery bug and want to improve your skills, they also host longer courses which range from two days to 12 weeks in length.

Tuft your own rug at Dublin Tufting

Have you ever seen those funky tufted rugs in homeware boutiques and fancied one of your own? Well, you can go one better with a workshop at Dublin Tufting, where you’ll learn to make your very own mirror rug. You can make these decorative wall hangings from scratch in just three hours, so you’ll get a chance to be creative, pick up a new skill and make a piece that won’t require a weeks-long project. Each workshop is for complete beginners and is a fun, easy-going session with music playing and plenty of chatter. And if you want to go one step further, you can do a month-long course where you’ll make your own bespoke rug over four sessions.  

Make do and mend with Change Clothes

There are loads of crafting sessions on offer in Change Clothes, a clothes swapping business on Thomas Street that’s also home to fashioned-themed workshops. These range from sewing machine lessons and community stitching projects to practical sessions like sock darning and stitching DIY draft excluders and hand warmers. Plus, depending on the time your workshop is held, you could also pop into the clothes swap section before or afterwards, bringing some of your pre-loved pieces to swap for items that are new-to-you.  

Paint at the National Gallery 

Few places could offer more inspiration for painting than the National Gallery of Ireland. The gallery hosts regular painting and drawing workshops, ranging from relaxed, tutor-led sessions to more in-depth classes run by professional artists. Many are inspired by the exhibitions on display, giving participants the chance to experiment with techniques and styles drawn from artists such as Picasso, or Ireland’s own Francis Danby. 

Media captionCraft your own masterpiece in the National Gallery of Ireland.

Learn calligraphy at the Chester Beatty  

It’s well worth keeping an eye on the events and workshops held at the Chester Beatty. As well as their regular Qi Gong sessions and writing workshops, they hold classes in skills like Chinese calligraphy, where you’ll learn of the ancient art of creating Han characters, before pottering around the exhibition and seeing the original masterpieces on display.   

Media captionGet inspiration for your own calligraphy from the exhibitions.

Make your own screen print in the Chocolate Factory

If you frequent Dublin’s markets, you’ve probably come across the bold, distinctive art prints by JANDO. Fans can now print these designs at a printmaking workshop led by co-founder Julie at the brand’s studio in the Chocolate Factory. Over two hours, you’ll learn the essentials of screen printing – from preparing stencils to pulling your own print. No sketching skills are needed; simply choose from one of JANDO’s signature designs and create your own vibrant piece to take home. 

Drink and Draw 

Fancy trying a drawing class with a livelier twist? Drink and Draw puts the focus on creativity and fun rather than perfection. These social art sessions come with themed workshops – one week you might be recreating Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, the next channelling Banksy – all while enjoying a glass of prosecco in a relaxed, party-style setting. 

Media captionShow off your painting skills with a drink in hand.

Media credit@drinkanddrawireland

Make a festive cocktail at the Pearse Lyons Distillery

It’s always the season for cocktails, and it’s much more fun if you make your own. At the Pearse Lyons Distillery, expert mixologists lead hands-on classes where you’ll learn to craft three signature drinks – perfect for impressing friends at your next gathering. While their Sip and Sleigh Cocktail Experience brings a festive twist to the holiday season, cocktail-making workshops run year-round, giving you the chance to shake, stir and sample your creations in the unique setting of the former St James’ Church.  

Media captionDiscover new flavour combinations from expert mixologists.

Whip up some truffles at House of Read

Founded in 1670, House of Read is one of Dublin’s oldest establishments, and stepping inside still feels like entering a piece of the city’s history. Today, it operates mainly as a café, but it also hosts chocolate truffle making workshops led by an artisan chocolatier. During the session, you’ll learn the techniques behind creating truffles from scratch – and leave with a bag of your own handmade treats. 

Create your own terrarium in Plantarium

Whether you want to craft a cool gift for a friend, or just make your own to keep at home, a terrarium-making workshop is a unique way to spend a few hours. At this workshop in Plantarium, you’ll make your own terrarium and find out everything you need to know about these miniature gardens. They also run themed workshops in the winter months, where you can create your own festive wreath or Halloween broom.  

Make a teddy bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop

Looking for a unique gift for a child (or adult-shaped kid?) At the Build-A-Bear Workshop you’ll select a cuddly toy then make it your own by choosing an outfit, accessories and even scents, as well as a self-recorded voice message. So if you want a pumpkin-scented platypus to wish someone a happy birthday, this is the place to go.  

Go storytelling with Dublin Storytime

If you’ve ever fancied yourself a bit of a seanchaí (a traditional Irish storyteller), Dublin Storytime is the perfect setting to share your tales. You can put your name forward for a chance to tell your story on stage before an encouraging audience or simply sit back and listen as both newcomers and seasoned storytellers take the mic. Some events are themed – spooky tales at Halloween, for instance – and similar storytelling nights are listed through Alternative Dublin. 

Discover a new skill at the Rediscovery Centre

The Rediscovery Centre is a creative enterprise that encourages a circular economy and greener living, and from their base in Ballymun they run regular workshops focusing on various skills. You could learn how to add pockets onto your clothes, pick up some DIY basics or find out how to repair everything from your coffee table to your bike. They often hold furniture upcycling and revamping workshops, too, so you can give your worn out pieces a new lease of life.  

Feeling creative? Check out the best pieces of street art all around Dublin.