Culture Night 2025 with Tamzen Lundy designs at GATHER recap
Our Corner of Culture: GATHER in Kildare Town
Friday, 19 September 2025, brought us a dose of that classic Irish weather — drizzle, damp streets, the occasional heavy sprinkle. But honestly? The inclement weather didn’t dampen spirits one bit. The glow of lights in windows, the hum of voices, and the feeling of community just made everything feel cozier. We’ve always said that creativity shines brightest under a little challenge — and that held true.
As part of the county-wide Culture Night programme running from 4:30 pm until late, GATHER (in the old “Southwell’s” unit, Market Square) joined the festivities with a Community Gathering of makers and craft.
Local craft makers co-operatively run GATHER, our products fill the shelves, and we work in the store, our commission keeps the lights on, and we are eternally grateful to the Local enterprise office who pay the rent!
On Friday 19th evening, Sarah McGuinness (Glass artist), Sam Agus Neasa (Wood) and Myself- Tamzen Lundy Designs (Textiles) opened up the shop- after hours, for live demonstrations, open conversation, and a chance for visitors to see how the making is actually done. Making the connection between the finished product and the craft making process.
I had fun demonstrating the making of my felted faux taxidermy foxes in the shop window — a little quirky, a little whimsical — chatting with each person who popped by, describing the process, the materials, and my own inspirations.
One of the loveliest things about Culture Night is the unexpected encounters: folks who couldn’t otherwise visit during regular hours (working, or commuting home late), or people simply drawn in by the lights and movement. Many stopped by just to look, ask questions, feel textures — with no pressure to buy, no expectations. We ended up having beautiful, unplanned conversations about craft, making, and creative journeys. It was exactly the kind of connection these evenings are for.
I truly enjoyed myself and was deeply touched by the warmth and support of the community. Big thanks also to Kildare County Council (and their Arts Service) support and publicity, helping to amplify what we do.
Each creative who has products and artwork for sale in GATHER typically takes a one-day shift per month — but after this night, I’m seriously considering doing more “in-window making” — the chance to share process in real time is so energising for me as a maker and helps to build a deeper understanding of what handmade -#madelocal actually means.