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arts · Saturday 27 June 2026 · 10:00am 
Art It Summer Studio Sessions
At Art It (Didi's Walk In Art Studio) · MacDonagh Junction Mall, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
At Art It (Didi's Walk In Art Studio) · MacDonagh Junction Mall, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Art It at MacDonagh Junction works equally well for a restless five-year-old and an adult who hasn’t picked up a paintbrush in years. Founded by New York-born artist DiDi Dobree-Wilson - who trained in Rome and London before settling in Ireland - the studio keeps things uncomplicated: no booking, no prior skill required. You walk in, choose a project, and make something. Throughout summer 2026, from late June to the end of August, the studio is open every day, fitting naturally into a Kilkenny day out or filling a wet afternoon with something genuinely creative.
The walk-in model is the heart of the place. Items to decorate and personalise range from jewellery boxes and pottery to tote bags, t-shirts, and canvas pieces - each one left with its maker. Materials are provided; sessions run at your own pace and typically last one to two and a half hours, with prices from around €18 per person.
Running alongside the open studio are summer camps for children aged 5 to 13. Half-day camps (10am to 1pm) suit ages 5 to 7 at €100 per child per week; full-day camps (10am to 3pm) cater for ages 8 to 13 at €160 per week. Past camps have mixed painting with sewing, cooking, crystal art, and string work. Spaces are limited - book well ahead.
MacDonagh Junction Mall sits in Kilkenny city centre, a short walk from Kilkenny Castle and the medieval old town. By car, Kilkenny is roughly an hour from Dublin on the M9 and an hour from Waterford. The mall has its own surface car park. By bus, Bus Eireann runs regular services from Dublin, Cork, and Waterford; the city centre is walkable from the Dublin Road bus station.
A session at Art It pairs well with a walk along the medieval mile, a stop at Kilkenny Castle, or lunch in one of the city’s independent cafes. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Art It (Didi's Walk In Art Studio) in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.