RUSH TABLE MAT

These mats are hand woven here from rushes gathered locally in West Cork. The craft of Rush basketry and weaving was once a viable small craft industry in Ireland, especially up along the Shannon where there are plenty of rushes growing. The material is the Common Club Rush that grows alongside freshwater lakes and large rivers. Gaelic – Bogshifín  Latin – Schoenoplectus lacustris All baskets and rush woven products are made by hand, it is not a craft that can been mechanised. Due to modern costs all the small Irish rural industries that made soft rush baskets have died out. Our rush baskets keep the craft alive but as they are made according to Irish living and work costs they are not the same price as imported baskets!