Dublin Maker - Invent, Inspire, Include
Year Awarded
2025
Amount
€330,000
- Organisation:University College Dublin (UCD)
Project Summary
Dublin Maker has been the annual independent showcase of the Maker movement in Ireland since 2012. This free-to-attend, community-driven, event taps into the natural curiosity of the public, drawing them into a world of hands-on, gloves-off invention and creativity.
In 2025, Dublin Maker moved to its new home at Leopardstown Racecourse in South County Dublin. This expansive venue offers the perfect backdrop to amplify the festival’s signature festival-like atmosphere, providing more space for interactive exhibits, playful experimentation, and creative exploration.
Each year, the event brings together an eclectic mix of tech enthusiasts, educators, artists, craftspeople, engineers, backyard inventors, students, and community groups—sourced through an open call from across Ireland and beyond. These makers share their work in an engaging “show and tell” style that sparks dialogue, discovery, and imagination.
Dublin Maker’s mission is threefold: to entertain, inform, and foster connections among the Irish maker community. By inspiring the next generation of makers and inventors, particularly in engineering and science, the festival plays a crucial role in shaping Ireland’s innovation landscape. Importantly, Dublin Maker prides itself on being an inclusive festival, welcoming individuals from all walks of life, irrespective of their social, economic, or educational backgrounds.
Accessibility is a key priority, achieved through strategic outreach, strong branding, and a thoughtful curation process supported by dedicated volunteer community partners.
Dublin Maker isn’t just an event—it’s a celebration of Ireland’s diverse maker culture. It’s a place to spark ideas, build connections, and nurture the next generation of creative thinkers and doers.