Kilkenny Woodworkers Company

As president of the Gaelic League, Lady Desart was a huge promoter of the Arts and Crafts movement. She held a strong philosophy on encouraging Irish design across the country. When she set up the 'Kilkenny Woodworkers Company', it was clear, judging by her other projects, that it would be highly successful.

The woodworkers quickly became a reputable company and their work became ingrained in the architecture of Kilkenny. No matter what the project; a stool or a shopfront, each piece had that stamp of quality only to be associated with the 'Kilkenny Woodworkers Company'. Many furnishings remain of their work, but as they are often to be found in homes around Ireland, they are often not viewable. A fine example of their work is a large bookcase that was on display as part of an exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland.

A finely-detailed shopfront of artistic design interest displaying high-quality craftsmanship representing the last surviving frontage executed by the Kilkenny Woodworkers Company can be seen on High Street with P.T. Murphy Jewellers.

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Although the only frontage survives of the Kilkenny Woodworkers work in Kilkenny, many subsequent businesses were inspired and influenced by their designs, and this has enhanced the aesthetics of the city.