Eibhlin’s Diary: Furniture projects across Ireland

Finders Keepers, Kerry

Based in Killorglin, Finders Keepers upcycles and sells quality, used furniture, as well as operating a series of upcycling workshops.

With a waiting list stretching into the months, Finders Keepers is already a very popular furniture business, striving to provide people with items that are both stylish and functional.

“We believe that everyone deserves to have a beautiful home, and we want to help make that a reality,” says the company, a recent recipient of our Circular Communications Grants programme. “Taking old unwanted furniture and turning it into something that’s beautiful again.”

Finders Keepers is using our grant money to promote their popular upcycling workshops.

“We plan on travelling around Munster and delivering furniture upcycling workshops in a bid to reduce waste. It keeps damaged\unwanted furniture from being thrown away by giving a new lease of life.”

Local communities will benefit by learning new skills, and the wider environment will benefit as less furniture goes to waste.

Keep an eye on Finders Keepers workshops page for beginners upcycling classes and courses.

Angie's Attic Furniture Upstyling, Laois

Operating out of Durrow, Angie’s Attic Furniture Upstyling aims to add charm to furniture revamps through unique, sustainable pieces, crafted to bring new life to every home.

Another of our grant winners, Angie’s Attic encourages upstyling of small furniture items potentially destined to go to waste.

Angie’s Attic is using the grant funding for marketing signage and prints, promoting a series of workshops for community groups, men's sheds, retirement groups.

“My aim is to run workshops to encourage a circular economy with much loved small furniture household items,” said Angie.

Aiséirí - Tipperary

Primarily an addiction treatment service, Aiséirí gives materials and people a second chance by reusing and repurposing furniture, reducing waste, and providing recovery participants with new skills and purpose.

A recent winner of our €5,000 communications grant, Aiséirí has locations in Tipperary, Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford.

The group is currently using the funding to support local advertising, social media promotion, and the creation of a short podcast and video to share their story and raise awareness of their circular social enterprise.

Clients of the centre in Waterford have the opportunity to work with Marianne and her ‘Loved back to Life’ programme during their recovery. The workshop allows them to spend their time restoration, sanding and painting, giving new life to old pieces of furniture during their own recovery journey.

The restored furniture also helps Aiséirí’s services. In their Tipperary home, there has been a wonderful new addition of a conservatory room that looks out to the serene grounds. The room has been painted a calm green, with salvaged paint supplied by Rediscover Paint. It will be furnished fully with pieces made by Aiséirí’s clients - in particular, a sideboard which is currently being refurbished, will have a new home here.