Life

Louth-based Dúinn Designs' Skelligs range melds ancient with contemporary

Hot stuff – the blues and greens of the Skellig Islands on Dúinn Designs oven gloves
Hot stuff – the blues and greens of the Skellig Islands on Dúinn Designs oven gloves Hot stuff – the blues and greens of the Skellig Islands on Dúinn Designs oven gloves

IRISH textile company Dúinn Designs, known for patterns depicting Celtic myths, legends and places of interest, has created a 'Skelligs' range of scarves and home-wear inspired by the Skellig islands, off the Co Kerry coast.

A long-time tourist attraction and Unesco World Heritage site, thanks to the ancient monastic settlement on Skellig Michael, the two rocky islands have further grown in popularity since sequences of the Star Wars series were filmed there – including Star Wars, The Last Jedi, which opens in cinemas next week.

Skelligs patterns were created by Duinn designer and owner Bernadette McCullagh, who encapsulates the dramatic islands – Skellig Michael (Great Skellig) and Little Skellig – in both grey/green print and a green/lime pattern. The aim, she says, was to offer a "fresh and contemporary" view of the site.

A graduate in textiles from Leeds University, Bernadette has always held a passion for patterns and colours and, following a career in sales, marketing, branding and design, took a step back to be at home for her children – and to allow pursuit of her "artistic roots" through the establishment of Dúinn ('For us') Designs based in Carlingford, Co Louth.

She has also drawn inspiration for her designs from the Giant's Causeway, Newgrange and the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

:: The Skelligs range is available in design-lead retailers across Ireland or through duinndesigns.com