"A virtual craft trail" to display the south-east's craft industry to the world via the Internet has been created by Craft Granary in Cahir, Co Tipperary.
Building on the region's reputation for pottery, glass, weaving and other traditional crafts, the Granary has recently gone online, its showcase stock exposed to literally millions of potential buyers.
The Granary regularly features the work of aspiring local artists from all over the south-east, and its "real" showcases, which are housed in the converted mill in Cahir, are now simultaneously mirrored on the World Wide Web.
In this way many producers of traditional craft objects who would not have the resources to set up their own website can have their work displayed on the Granary site. But there are also links to other craft sites in the region, such as the Crafts Council of Ireland, in Kilkenny.
The plan is to link a whole series of crafts people and businesses to the World Wide Web in the hope that potential clients surfing the web will be able to explore the region through a series of links, studying stock lists, viewing displays and even ordering.
The £5 million Craft Granary was opened in June of this year by the local Minister of State, Mr Noel Davern. It is in a converted mill, its 540 square metres spread over four floors.
It has two gallery spaces, a retail outlet, conference rooms and a successful workshop programme. It promotes the work of local artists and craft workers, including textile artist Winnie Looby, basket-maker Patsy Cahill, furniture-maker and interior designer Brendan Hogg, jewellery-maker Victoria Foutz and timber crafts maker Seamus Heany.
The workshop programme teaches crafts through a one-day or weekend course. Subjects include weaving sheepswool and paper and basket-making.
The current exhibition in the galleries, which is, of course, available on the website, concentrates on ceramics, wool, embroidery and natural weaves.
The various agencies involved in putting together the Craft Granary were the Leader Programme, the local Enterprise Board, Tipperary South Riding County Council and local business interests. The activities were co-ordinated by the South East Regional Authority.
Its director, Mr Tom Byrne, said the authority was very pleased with the venture.
"The region has always had a reputation for crafts, mainly based around Kilkenny. This venture with its virtual trail is designed to assist, but also to spread the benefit of the reputation throughout the region," he said.
The address of the Craft Granary is: www.craftgranary.com