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Dublin: Learn and Experience Irish Calligraphy
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From €18 per person
Long before the Latin alphabet took over Irish life, there was Clo Gaelach - a beautifully distinctive script that appeared on street signs, government documents, and everyday print across the country. It’s largely vanished from modern use, but this two-hour workshop gives you the chance to learn it from someone who genuinely cares about keeping it alive.
Your guide takes you through the history and character of the script first - why it matters, where it came from, and how it connects to centuries of Irish identity. Then you pick up a pen and have a go yourself. All materials are provided, and the atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging. No previous calligraphy experience is expected or needed. You’ll leave with a real feel for the craft and a piece of your own work to take home.
At EUR18, this is one of the best-value cultural experiences in Dublin, and one of the most distinctive. It works well for anyone interested in art, language, or Irish history - or who simply wants to try something a bit different from the usual sightseeing day.
Clo Gaelach was the standard typeface for Irish-language printing for centuries, and if you’ve spent any time looking at old Irish signs, books, or official documents, you’ve already seen it without necessarily knowing what it was. The dotted consonants and distinctive letterforms were phased out of standard use from the 1960s onwards as Irish typography moved towards the Roman alphabet, but the script never disappeared entirely. Finding someone who teaches it properly is genuinely rare.
Don’t worry if you’ve never held a calligraphy pen before. The whole workshop is built around complete beginners, and the guide has a way of breaking down the letterforms that makes it feel achievable from the first stroke. The point isn’t to leave as a practitioner - it’s to leave with a real understanding of how the script works and something you’ve made yourself.
The piece you take home is worth thinking about before you arrive. Some people write a word or phrase in Irish, others work on their own name in Clo Gaelach, and others try to recreate something they’ve seen on an old sign. If you have something in mind - a family name, a place, a phrase - it’s worth having it ready to share with your guide at the start.
Flux Studios, where the workshop is held, is in the heart of Dublin and easy to find if you’re coming from the city centre. It’s a creative space that hosts a range of workshops and events, so check what else is on if you’re looking for more things to do in the same area.
Book early if you’re visiting during the summer or around St Patrick’s Day - the group maximum is 15 and the workshop fills up quickly, particularly with visitors who are tracing their Irish heritage and want something more meaningful than a souvenir from a gift shop. At EUR18 it’s an easy booking to make ahead of time and a straightforward one to cancel if your plans change.