The annual Irish Joinery Awards underlined the significance of joinery and the timber trades to Ireland’s construction and furniture sectors and the economy overall. That was the view of Irish environment minister Noel Dempsy, who presented the prizes at the event last week.
The awards were organised by the Irish Timber Trade Association and sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council, the Malaysian Timber Council and the Timber Export Development Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission.
Winner of the Public Building category was the Civic Office in Dunshaughlin featuring iroko joinery from Gem Manufacturing.
The Private Residential category was won jointly by the Clarinbridge Housing Development, using African idigbo and American ash, and the library at Glenstal Abbey, using American white oak. The joinery companies were respectively Geraghty and Co of Clare, and Tom Hayes of Killaloe.
The Conservation award went to the Baltinglass Courthouse Visitor Centre in Co Wicklow by Duggan & Co, featuring ‘contemporary joinery’ in pitch pine and beech.
A conference furniture suite in American black walnut and hard maple won the Furniture category for Michael Bell Design of Vicarstown.
