A young man from Kildinan, near Rathcormac, is among a group of young up-and-coming Irish designers whose work is being exhibited at the NCAD Gallery in Dublin. The exhibition is being presented by the Crafts Council of Ireland in partnership with the National College of Art and Design. It will run until April 8th.

Darragh Casey from Kildinan, near Rathcormac, is now working as a freelance designer in London, where he moved two years ago to study for an MA in furniture design at Central St. Martin's College of Art. Darragh received his early education at Bishop O'Brien National School in Bartlemy and in Coláiste an Chraoibhín in Fermoy. "I was given a lot of support there from Noel Sheehan to pursue an artistic career," Darragh told The Avondhu this week. He went on to study art and design at the National College of Art and Design in Dun Laoghaire.

Darragh returns home to Kildinan as often as he can and was back at the weekend to visit after attending the opening of the exhibition. Darragh's parents are Pat and Helen Casey. He has two brothers, Oisin and Alan, while his grandmother Nora Walsh also lives in Kildinan.

Since branching out as a freelance designer, Darragh has worked on commissions for Camper Shoes, the Harley Street Clinic and for the Mittal family, the family who sponsored the 'Mittal Orbat' created by Anish Kapoor for the Olympic Village. He's also working as a technical assistant in Central St. Martins and has had numerous exhibitions of his work around London, Spain and Ireland.

The 'Future Makers' exhibition which is now running, features exceptional award-winning craft and design objects including ceramics, glass, fashion, jewellery, sculpture and furniture, all designed and made by Ireland's leading creative students and recent graduates. The exhibition showcases the craftsmanship of the next generation of Irish makers, who are shaping the creative future of Ireland by combining innovative techniques and processes with hand made skills.

Darragh's project is among the work of 23 award and support recipients for 2012 with work featured in the exhibition. He received the 2012 Future Makers Materials Support which he used to purchase equipment and rent studio space last year.

"My project 'Shelving the Body' resulted in the 'Shelf Portraits' that are being exhibited in NCAD this month. The project involved readdressing the idea of the shelf and creating shelving units specific to my family and their possessions," he explained.

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