Clare Local Development Company and SICAP Programme supports this event which takes place at the Clare Museum in Ennis.

Straw Connect is a participatory cultural project exploring historical and contemporary links between Ireland and Eastern Europe through shared straw craft traditions. Rooted in heritage and community engagement, it brings together artists, craftspeople, and local groups to reimagine traditional knowledge today.

The project features 2 workshops at various locations where participants use natural materials to create traditional straw mobiles found across Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, along with mummers’ straw hats inspired by Irish and Polish customs such as Straw-boys, Draby Noworoczne, and Dziady Śmigustne.

These works will be displayed and worn at Clare Museum during the main event on 10 October 2026, which will also include documentaries, exhibitions, and performances of Irish, Polish, and Ukrainian music and dance. By working with straw and natural materials, Straw Connect highlights sustainability, creativity, and the cultural links between Irish and Eastern European folk traditions.