Traditional Irish Basketmaking for Wellbeing, Learning and Creativity

Fáilte. I’m Helena Golden, an Irish basket maker, willow weaving teacher and facilitator from County Leitrim.

I love sharing the traditions, stories and skills of Irish basketmaking with communities across Ireland.  Through the heritage craft of willow weaving, I aim to inspire wellbeing, learning and creativity, helping people discover the satisfaction of making something beautiful and useful with their own hands.

Teaching Traditional Irish Basketmaking

Teaching is at the heart of what I do. I travel throughout Ireland delivering traditional basketmaking workshops for schools, colleges, community groups, Family Resource Centres, arts organisations, museums, heritage organisations, active retirement groups, social care settings, staff teams and private events.  I also run public basketmaking courses at venues across Ireland, which can be booked directly through this website, as well as offering online learning through my Online School of Natural Craft.

Handmade in Leitrim

Alongside my teaching, I weave bespoke willow baskets to commission, and a small collection of handcrafted willow creations is available to purchase through my online shop. As part of my commitment to sustainability, I also produce Ireland’s first commercially available natural willow charcoal for artists, made from the offcuts of my basketmaking willow so that every part of the harvest is valued.

I grow a diverse range of willow varieties or sally rods here in Leitrim, allowing me to work with beautiful natural colours and textures.

More Than a Craft

My workshops offer people the opportunity to slow down, work with their hands and experience the gentle rhythm of weaving with natural willow. Along the way, I share the stories, traditions and cultural heritage of Irish basketmaking, helping to keep this craft alive for future generations.

About Helena

Before becoming a full-time basketmaking teacher, I spent many years working in community development, designing and facilitating projects that encouraged participation, inclusion and lifelong learning. That experience continues to shape how I teach today. I create welcoming, accessible workshops where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds feel supported to learn, create and enjoy the process, whether they are children discovering willow for the first time, adults reconnecting with traditional skills, or colleagues coming together for a shared creative experience.

I also hold a Master’s degree in Communications, bringing a professional, organised and collaborative approach to every project and workshop. I work closely with schools, local authorities, arts organisations, community groups and businesses to design workshops that are engaging, well planned and tailored to the needs of each group.

Let’s Work Together

Whether you’re interested in planning a workshop, looking for a unique handcrafted willow piece, or would simply like to find out more about traditional Irish basketmaking, I’d be delighted to hear from you.