Workhouse Union

When we gather together, we learn and move forward together. Three weeks ago, we welcomed over 100 participants across two days to the Cois Baile Seminar in Callan. This vibrant two-day event embodied a spirit of creativity, collegiality, and cooperation. We hope that the optimism and determination we felt so palpably in the room are at least partially conveyed by these pictures. Cois Baile was produced in a spirit of collaboration between Workhouse Union, Cloughjordan Co-Housing, Cork Community Land Trust and Trí Síolta Community Land Trust, with support from Amicitia and Matt Baker. We asked ourselves how we could strengthen the broader movement for creative placemaking, community-led housing, and community land trusts in Ireland. We were joined by representatives from the islands, Gaeltachts, and coastal towns—areas facing the most severe effects of Ireland’s housing crisis—alongside those searching for new ways to revitalise our towns and cities. The discussions were enriched by national and international perspectives from the European Community Land Trust Network, The Housing Agency, Sturts Community Trust, South of Scotland Community Housing, and Tascfhórsa Uíbh Ráthaigh. We are grateful to each and every attendee for bringing their expertise, enthusiasm, principles and pragmatism to the seminar, which were tangible in every contribution. Over two days, we engaged in talks, discussions, workshops, creative activities, visioning and an assembly, with ample time for sharing meals, walks, and - most importantly - getting to know one another. Following a resounding consensus on the urgent need for a strong, unified voice by and for our movement, we concluded the seminar on Saturday afternoon, 18th April, with the promise to work together to develop a community land trust alliance for Ireland. In the weeks ahead, we’ll share stories and insights from the event, along with updates on the alliance’s visioning process. Cois Baile Seminar was funded by the @artscouncilireland and @ecolise.eu /CHOICE Project Photos by @briancreganphotography

As spring brings warmth and light to our garden, we are excited to announce the return of Colour Field’s annual programme for a second year. Colour Field is an artists’ garden at Workhouse Union, connected to PrintBlock Callan and cultivated to support colour-giving plants. Our seasonal programme is designed to nurture a creative community of artists, craftspeople, and creative practitioners around the garden and outdoor dye kitchen—fostering deeper connections to the world through making. This year’s workshops delve into dyeing, printing, and creating art materials from trees and foraged plants. Curated by Hollie Kearns (@hollie_kearns ), the programme is facilitated by Hollie Kearns and Michelle McMahon (@michelle_mcmahon_art ). We are delighted to welcome guest facilitators Malú Colorín (@malu_colorin ) Ashleigh Ellis (@ashleighellis_natureartist ) and Mairead Holohan (@maireadholohanartist ) each of whom brings a unique perspective and expertise to the programme. Join us for the first workshop of the season on Saturday, 25 April—a day-long exploration of creating colour from birch trees for textiles and paper. Working with leaves and bark, participants will discover a spectrum of natural dyes for fibres and fabrics, as well as inks for paper. The workshop is facilitated by Hollie Kearns and McMahon. For details about workshop costs and booking, please visit our website linked above. Last year, our programme filled up quickly, so this year we are spacing out the workshop booking announcements. Bookings for each workshop will be announced one month in advance. The Colour Field programme is supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

We are delighted to announce an opportunity to join the team at Workhouse Union and develop your capacity and experience in nature-focused creative placemaking and community engagement. We have two part-time fixed-term employment opportunities, from mid-April to mid-September 2026. These capacity building opportunities will support two emerging creative practitioners to gain experience and connect with the local ecology, heritage, and communities of place and interest in Callan. One opportunity offers the chance to join the Colour Field team as an Associate Creative Producer, focusing on maintaining the dye garden and supporting public activities. The second opportunity is a creative public engagement role as part of Callan Open Doors (@the_powerhouse_callan ) and connects to the @westcourtlivingandgrowing community garden site. Application Deadline: 27 March 2026 at 5 pm. If you are curious about these opportunities, please follow the link in our bio. Please share far and wide. This new programme invites emerging creative practitioners to gain meaningful, hands-on experience with the Workhouse Union team. Developed from insights gained through our Town Ecologies programme, it also draws inspiration from @stovenetwork 's Creative Spaces Associate programme—an initiative we observed in action during our organisational exchange with The Stove Network in Scotland.

As we prepare for April’s Cois Baile Seminar with our collaborators, we’ll be sharing the evolving journey that shapes and inspires our creative placemaking practice. Last spring, Workhouse Union hosted a Creative Placemaking Meet-Up in Callan. This day-long gathering brought together over 40 artists, architects, creative practitioners, organisations, local authorities, funders, and community development groups to share experiences of creative placemaking in Ireland. Matt Baker and Katherine Wheeler joined us to share insights from The Stove Network’s innovative work in Scotland. Our ongoing exchange with The Stove over the past four years continues to enrich our approach. Enjoy the video and storytelling of the day— voices from across the country and a walk through Callan. A huge thank you to those who participated, and we look forward to future associative networking through the Cois Baile Seminar: Amicitia, @asylum_productions_kk , @bi_urban_desireland , Callan Open Doors, Callan Town Team, @carlow_arts_festival , Cloughjordan Co-Housing, @fennellys_of_callan , @greywoodarts , @hometreecharity , @irisharchitecturefoundation , @kcatartscentre , @kunstverein_aughrim , @trickster_makes , Prescience, @starlingstart , @tri_siolta , @westcourtlivingandgrowing @waterstreet_assoc and individual creative practitioners, researchers and community organisers. Funded by the @artscouncilireland supported by @kilkennyleader . Video by @lukebrabazon .

After months of collaborative effort, we are delighted to announce the date for the Cois Baile Seminar, which focuses on community-led approaches to Creative Placemaking and Community-Led Housing, particularly the practical implementation of Community Land Trusts in Ireland. The seminar takes place on 17 April 2026 at The Powerhouse, Callan and is organised by Workhouse Union, Tri Siolta Community Land Trust (@tri_siolta ), Cork Community Land Trust (@cclt.ie ) and Cloughjordan Co-Housing. The seminar is practitioner-focused and co-designed around the needs of groups and projects in Ireland. We are reaching out to groups and projects across the country to get to know your particular context so we can shape the seminar meaningfully to the needs of this growing collective movement. The Cois Baile Seminar aims to support grassroots action towards Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in Ireland. Whatever their form, CLTs share values of care and agency for their locality, and stewardship of land for the future and the common good. ​We are asking you to complete a survey (link in bio) to better ensure the seminar benefits all participants, to identify shared challenges, and to connect existing people and activities on the ground. We want to hear from you. Please complete this form by 5 pm, 20 March 2026. Cois Baile Seminar registration opens to the public on 21 March 2026. Cois Baile Seminar is funded by the Arts Council and supported through the Ecolise/CHOICE Project. Please share far and wide! * Illustration by @an_na_mar

As we pause for a mid-winter hibernation, we wish everyone meaningful moments to reconnect with nature and each other—through festive celebration or quiet reflection. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who journeyed and collaborated with Workhouse Union in 2025. Photo by @lukebrabazon . Pattern Makers table runner and ceramic dishes made through collaborative workshops for a community meal in Thomastown Community Hall, October 2024.

What a joy to experience the generosity and interest of everyone who came to share and learn at Saturday’s Colour Field Skills Share Open Day. The Colour Field dye-garden is only a year in the making and we’ve been blown away by its abundant harvest and the diverse community of interest that has grown through workshops, residencies and meitheals. We look forward to the ongoing collaboration with curator Hollie Kearns tending to the garden and programme of activities into the coming years. Thank you to everyone who participated. To @hollie_kearns and @michelle_mcmahon_art for exploring blue through Indigo. Peter Hoare from the Irish Society of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers was a showstopper, processing flax grown at Colour Field. Monica Fleming (@hay_crafts ) demonstrated how saving seed is a skill we all need. @juliamacconville and @susanne_horsch_art turned the library into a clothes mending haven. Kilkenny Fruit Tree Project volunteers were non-stop with people’s bumper apple crops. Michelle and @katelydon shared the joy of block printing through a biodiversity theme. Hollie shared the story of Colour Field over a dye-pot on an outdoor firepit. And thank you to those who baked apple cake and served tea and apple juice. Last but not least, thank you to our impromptu musicians, Roseanne, Steve (@o_fionnachta_ ) and Denise (@votive_illustration ) from Ballingarry, who kept the tunes flowing at the end of the afternoon Creative community effort at its best. Colour Field is funded by the @artscouncilireland and @creativekilkenny . Photos by @ameliacaulfield .

The Lattices of Love team travelled to Berlin to join our collaborator, Cassie Thornton (@the_feminist_economics_dept ), for ‘On Mutiny and Federation: A Pirate Care Gathering’ at @agit.berlin and @casinoooooooooooo . This three-day gathering celebrated the launch of the book *Pirate Care: Acts Against the Criminalisation of Solidarity* (Pluto Press, 2025). The book grew from the @pirate.care syllabus, which aims to map practices of disobedient care in times when care itself is criminalised. Our workshop, part of the gathering’s programme, building on Cassie’s work through The Hologram, provided an opportunity to expand the Lattices of Love network and connect with others working on how radically-inclusive models of response could co-create change in health and how we care. Our gratitude goes out to the Casino for Social Medicine crew for their warm and vibrant hosting. The Casino is a collectively managed peer-run café and event space located in the heart of Berlin-Neukölln. It is partly a coffee house, partly an open access social medicine centre, and partly an organizational hub where social movements and cultural practice intersect. A continuous offering of food in support of families in Gaza was shared at the Casino’s counter, and the gathering expressed radical solidarity with Palestine, especially towards peers on the Global Sumud Flotilla. (Lattices of Love is led by Workhouse Union and Thom Stewart with Cassie Thorton, Sarah Browne and Mark Garaven. Funded by the Arts Council).

Autumn is here, and we’re excited to share Colour Field’s skills harvest with you all. Come and participate in an afternoon dedicated to sharing skills with our growing community of growers, printers, dyers, and menders. This is also an opportunity to welcome our friends and neighbours from near and far. Saturday 27 September, 1 - 4 pm Natural Dyeing with Wool and Linen: An outdoor demonstration of natural dyeing with wool and linen, where Hollie Kearns (@hollie_kearns ) will share the journey of developing the dye garden this summer. Flax processing: Peter Hoare from the Irish Society of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers will demonstrate flax processing for linen production using traditional flax tools. Biodiversity on the Block: Bring your old clothes and fabrics and make anew with nature block prints with Michelle Mc Mahon (@michelle_mcmahon_art ). Shoppe: Sew, mend, and reimagine unwanted clothes and materials with Julia MacConville and Susanne Horsch (@juliamacconville & @susanne_horsch_art ). Seed Saving: Learn how to save seed from the Colour Field garden and meadow areas with Monica Fleming (@hay_crafts ). Apple pressing: Bring your own apples and containers to press with Kilkenny Fruit Tree Project. Drop by for 10 minutes or stay for a couple of hours. All welcome. Participation is free. Tea and hot apple juice with a promise of cake. Some activities will take place outdoors; please dress for the weather. Workhouse Union is not fully wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you have any specific support and/or access requirements to assist your participation. Colour Field is funded by the @artscouncilireland and @creativekilkenny . Poster design by @paulbokslag

Last week we gathered in Athenry and Galway for a series of workshops as part of Lattices of Love. Thank you to all those who joined us ✹ each interaction, act of listening and contribution was a gift. Lattices of Love has been many years in the making. Workhouse Union had the privilege of journeying alongside the innovative mental health peer-led co-production work in Galway that led to a new model of out-of-hours crisis support in the city. We learnt an immense amount from attending and co-facilitating workshops with Thom Stewart, and along the way, we were introduced to the work of Cassie Thornton (@the_feminist_economics_dept ) and Mark Garavan. Last week, Cassie introduced the peer-to-peer support system of The Hologram and the workshop group imagined how to use these dialogue-based practices to navigate uncaring structures/institutions. We were welcomed by the generosity and warmth of Amicitia’s new social hub in Athenry, and met in a convivial community cafe within the grounds of University Hospital Galway. Thank you to Patrick Mulvihill and Heather Griffin (@makenice_hg ) for minding us so well in Athenry, and leading a listening tour of the town. Lattices of Love is led by Workhouse Union and Thom Stewart in collaboration with Cassie Thornton Mark Garavan and Sarah Browne (@sarahjaybrowne ). Next week, the group joins Cassie in Berlin to take part in the Pirate Care Gathering (@pirate.care ) ✹ Of Mutiny and Federation ✹ at AGIT and the Casino for Social Medicine (@casinoooooooooooo ) Lattices of Love is funded by @artscouncilireland .

Join us for a workshop in Athenry and Galway to explore care, support, and navigating uncaring structures. The option of two different workshop dates has been planned to accommodate people’s availability. *Please note that Thursday’s workshop is fully booked. There are places still remaining for Friday’s evening workshop, so please book swiftly: [email protected] Workhouse Union has brought together co-production advocate Thom Stewart, designer of the Community Cafe, in collaboration with Berlin-based artist Cassie Thornton, originator of The Hologram, Mark Garavan, author of Care, and visual artist Sarah Browne for a year-long project ‘Lattices of Love’. We are exploring how ways of talking, questioning, and witnessing create a different approach to care. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the peer-to-peer support system of the Hologram, where the core activity is to ask questions, with curiosity as the expression of care. We will invite workshop participants to imagine together how we could use these dialogue-based practices to achieve deeper engagement with established systems and institutions. Our goal is to publish a how-to guide or ‘Play Book’ for transplanting these practices of questioning and listening as ways to navigate uncaring structures. These workshop events are open to all, but would be of special interest to Experts-by-Experience and peer supporters, health and disability advocates, community activists, or anyone interested in care, community-building, or art as a medium for social change. Lattices of Love is funded by @artscouncilireland . For full workshop details, including booking, travel refunds, venues and access please see link in our bio above. #TheHologram #CoProduction

Making Colour Residency | Marielle Mac Leman St John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum), a plant commonly used to aid mental health, has set seed before the Ivy-clad walls of the building designated ‘Ward for Idiots, Imbeciles and Epileptics’ in the original plans for Callan Workhouse which opened in 1842. These are amongst the plants which Marielle used during the Making Colour Residency to begin printmaking with natural colours, with view to developing textile-based projects dealing with ideas of care. Marielle MacLeman is a visual artist who combines salvaged and context-based materials with craft references to interrogate their potential to produce meaning. She is interested in the material traces of labour and care, and the interplay between progress and decline. @mariellemacleman Making Colour Residency is funded by the @artscouncilireland as part of Colour Field. Photos 1,2,3,5,6,8 by Alex Thomson Photos 4,7 courtesy of the artist #ColourField