‘I came to Kenmare for the weekend and never left’

“All my friends in Limerick thought I had completely lost the plot when I moved down here to Kenmare,” says Norman McCloskey.

He took no notice. Because being in a heritage town surrounded by that world-famous Kerry scenery “inspired me to pick up a camera”, adds the now-acclaimed photographer.

Norman McCloskey in his gallery in Kenmare.

That was in 1992, when he was 20. Subsequently, Norman trained his lens on further studies in Dublin. “But the desire was always there to move back. Eventually, I was working in a photography agency that allowed me to work from home long before half the planet was doing it,” says Norman.

The press and landscape photographer now has shelves laden with awards and glossy publications bearing his name, the latest being his volume Headlands: Images of West Cork.

Speaking from his gallery on the town’s Main Street, he adds: “I came here for the weekend and never left. It’s quite a common story here.”

That’s also how Joop Duyne opened a new chapter for his family. Joop landed in Kenmare in 1979 from near Harlem in the Netherlands. His son, furniture maker Adrian Duyne, says: “My dad had come to work on the furniture in the Park Hotel before it opened. He fell in love with the town, the country and the already-establishing creative culture of Kenmare, so tore up his ticket, settled down and married Mum (Maria) from Cork. 

Adrian Duyn at home.

“I was born here and grew up here.” 

Adrian subsequently left Kenmare to study furniture conservation and restoration but moved back to join the family business, Joop Duyn & Sons Ltd, in 2007 to lead its furniture design/making.

Similarly, Kenmare-born-and-raised Eamonn O’Sullivan returned to roost after years studying and working away from the Kingdom.

Eamonn, a graphic designer who owns the multidisciplinary and award-winning Anchor Studio, soon discovered countless contemporaries doing likewise. “There are many people from Kenmare in my age group, mid-40s, who have lived away for 10 or 15 years and moved back, especially in the last 10 years or so,” he says.

Eamonn O’Sullivan in his graphic design studio.

Eamonn had lived in London for three years. “I met my wife in London, moved to Dublin, and then after 12 or 13 years, moved back here seven years ago — and it’s brilliant. I wouldn’t change it,” he says.

As three people working in creative spheres, they’ve discovered that being based in a town in a rural setting rather than a city is a distinct advantage. “It’s endlessly inspiring to be in a town such as Kenmare — you’re surrounded by other creative people, which kind of spurs us on to do our own thing,” says Norman.

And the opportunity for collaboration is unparalleled. “You can be quite isolated in towns and cities. Here, if you need a designer, if you need something made, you don’t even need something made don’t even need to pick up the phone — chances are you can meet the person you need on the street,” adds Norman.

And this is the organic way this trio tend to collaborate both with one another and with the wider creative community.

The Lansdowne Restaurant.

All three worked on the design of The Lansdowne Kenmare venue in recent years with owners Aileen and Patrick Hanley. 

The Lansdowne now serves as the hub for the latest community venture, the inaugural Design Kenmare festival, which runs from November 14-16 and is the official curtain-raiser for Irish Design Week.

Norman, Eamonn and Adrian are among the organising committee, which believes Kenmare’s Georgian-era planned layout and strong artisan heritage, as well as its vibrant cultural scene, make the town the ideal setting for a festival of this scale.

Design Kenmare developed from the town’s thriving creative design and maker community.

Norman McCloskey, Adrian Duyn, Maureen Gudgeon, Eamonn O’Sullivan, Patrick Hanley, Natalie Moriarty. Picture: Lynda Kenny

In a way, the upcoming event had its beginnings when furniture maker Adrian and graphic designer Eamonn brought together 28 local makers, designers, photographers, and publishers for the Le Chéile Showcase Exhibition at Kenmare Butter Market in 2024.

Its success — with sold-out evening talks — sparked the idea of creating a festival that would place Kenmare on the map as a centre for creative excellence. 

Adrian and Eamonn joined forces with photographer Norman, hotelier Patrick Hanley, and Naoise Nunn of cultural festival specialists Schweppe Curtis Nunn to develop the concept with the support of Kerry County Council.

Working with the wider Le Chéile network, they curated an exceptional roster of speakers for Design Kenmare.

Amanda Bone. Picture: Ruth Maria Murphy

All talks on the festival programme — and these are talks, Eamonn is keen to stress, it’s not meant to be like a “city-style” conference — will take place within walking distance of one another, allowing attendees to engage with speakers and fellow creatives throughout the weekend. “We believe some of the most exciting interactions will be those ‘in-between’ ones, the happenings between the events,” says Eamonn.

Dermot Bannon.

So will this be like a designer’s version of Listowel Writers’ Week, I ask? “Our unofficial tagline is Other Voices for design,” says Norman, citing the Dingle dream destination event for music lovers. So stroll the streets of Kenmare next weekend and perhaps you’ll bump into architects Amanda Bone or Dermot Bannon, or world-leading interior designer and Kenmare native Bryan O’Sullivan.

Interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan.

Or you might get to exchange views with artist Maser on graffiti.

Even though the speakers are all nationally and internationally recognised names — as well as the above, we’re talking Paul Galvin, Jenny Huston, Marc Fish, Fingal Ferguson, James O’Neill, Gráinne Kavanagh, Mark Joyce, Deridra McBeth, Róisin Buckley, Steve Doogan, and more — the informal feel is key, say the organisers.

Beyond the core programme, book signings and fringe events will help visitors explore what Kenmare and Kerry have to offer, say the organisers, “creating a weekend that blends inspiration, networking and creative exchange in equal measure”. The inaugural festival will celebrate architecture, interiors, fashion, graphics, photography, and product design.

Marc Fish.

Across 12 keynote panels and discussions, the world-class line-up of Irish and international designers, architects, photographers and creative thinkers will explore themes such as storytelling and narrative in visual practice and sustainable design and the circular economy — all in an intimate setting. “The tone throughout the weekend will be insightful, conversational, and cross-disciplinary — encouraging genuine dialogue between creators, thinkers, and audiences,” says Adrian.

Design Kenmare runs from November 14-16