While most of us are in summer holiday mode in June, Micheál Brett is already turning his attentions to Christmas in his craft workshop on the family farm, just outside Athlone.
It is here, in midsummer, that he starts working on his beautiful wooden reindeer, each with a big red nose, cards, dotty giant mushrooms, slate Christmas decorations, door wreaths and garden signs in a bid to be ready to open his craft shop on 16 November.
He finds inspiration all around him in the countryside, collecting pieces of wood around the farm, slates from an old shed, branches along the tree-lined driveway for his reindeer antlers and acorns for his decorations.
Micheál (32), who has an intellectual disability, is assisted in his endeavours by support workers from the Muiríosa Foundation, who help him to live independently in Athlone and travel in and out to his family home daily to do his crafts in nearby Fardrum.
First craft memory
“In national school I made an angel for the Christmas tree, and every year I still put it up there,” he says, recalling his very first craft memory.
Encouraged by his family and support workers to nurture his creativity, he originally started making Christmas decorations back in 2013 with slates from an old shed that was being re-roofed and has been adding to his repertoire ever since.
“I wash the slates, varnish them and then arrange them and decorate them with the figurines like Santa and a candle or lights,” Micheál explains, before bringing me inside to his craft room where he finishes his pieces. “This is where the magic happens,” he smiles shyly before showing off the Aladdin’s cave of Christmas baubles, lights and colour.
Directing Irish Country Living to the latest decoration he has made that morning before our arrival, Micheál points out the different features on the slate – an acorn he has collected, dried and painted – and parts of an old Christmas tree he has cut up and painted to give a snow effect. There is a jolly-looking snowman perched on top too.
Another big hit are his tall wooden reindeer or painted mushrooms, which many people use as garden ornaments.He puts together the mushrooms in his workshop. There are several steps to do this, he demonstrates, showing how he fills the container with concrete before leaving it to dry for four weeks. Then there is work sanding the wooden mushroom and priming and sealing before his favourite part – getting the paintbrush out. “I like painting the mushrooms and doing the dots.”
Micheál Brett pictured with one of Micheál’s hand-crafted reindeer. \ David Ruffles
Micheál says he “changes things up every year”, so his new additions to the range for this Christmas are decorated lanterns, painted glass pieces and festive door wreaths. He shows off a newly made wreath on the front door of Fardrum House – which dates back to 1825 – during our photo shoot.
Unsurprisingly, this is Micheál’s favourite time of the year. “I love Christmas. I love the build-up, the excitement, the lights and the atmosphere. I like shopping and decorating the house too,” he replies.
Asked how he feels when people buy his crafts to decorate their homes at markets, the talented crafter simply says, “I feel happy. I love going to markets because it’s fun. I like meeting people,” he says, pointing to a sign in the garden which simply says Micheál’s Crafts.
As well as the shop at his family home on 16 November, he will attend a Christmas market in Ferbane, Co Offaly, on 30 November, another in Ballymore, Co Westmeath on 7 December and a pop-up shop at Jazz Pharmaceuticals in Monksland, Co Roscommon.
Away from crafts, Micheál says he enjoys watching classic Coronation Street or history programmes on YouTube, especially anything about World War I and World War II. He is also a big fan of Justin Bieber and Beyoncé. Every Sunday he enjoys coming out to see his mother, Deirdre Flinn, and family and loves the leaves on the tall trees near his home and seeing the animals in the fields. He points out several trees planted by his late father Jim.
Micheál Brett pictured with his support worker Valeria and some of his crafts ahead of his Christmas shop opening on 16 November. \ David Ruffles
Circus fascination
Another thing that fascinates Micheál is the circus, and he channelled his dream of being a ringmaster and owning a circus into inspiration for two children’s books, Micheál and the Magical Circus in 2016 and a sequel, Micheál and the Magical Circus Returns in 2021.
“When I was a kid I used to love going to the circus. I was obsessed with the circus, the performers and the atmosphere,” he says, excitedly. “The yard was my circus [where he put on shows] when I was young.”
He was at a wedding recently where there were circus performers as entertainment, which he really enjoyed. “But my least favourite are the clowns because they come up to and scare you,” adds Micheál. On the prospect of another book, he admits he is thinking about publishing a new circus story in the future.
Set up in 2009, the Person-Centred Wing of the Muiríosa Foundation delivers individualised support to people with an intellectual disability. Micheál lives independently with supports as part of this programme, which is funded by the HSE.
Each arrangement is bespoke and built on the ideal of living a full and inclusive life. Particular focus is given to important areas such as home, education, employment and active participation in society.
“We support Micheál to live as independently as possible by teaching him life skills, like using the bus, going from point A to B,” says support worker Valeria Lungu of the Muiríosa Foundation, one of five on his team. “We also work with him on crafts, some parts of which he might need help with,” she adds.
“What people want is usually very ordinary but seen as an extraordinary if you have a disability,” a spokesperson for the Muiríosa Foundation says.
Before leaving, Micheál explains he is going to be very busy over the next few weeks, but he is really looking forward to meeting his customers. Afterwards he’ll stock up on craft supplies just before Christmas, when there are generous discounts, before taking a break from January to March.
Then he’s ready to start his planning for his Christmas craft journey all over again for 2026.
One of Micheál's hand-crafted wooden reindeer. \ David Ruffles
Micheál’s Craft Shop opens on 16 November at Fardrum House, Athlone N37WR40 from 11am to 3pm. For more information call 087 7866442. See @micheals_crafts on Instagram or Facebook.
While most of us are in summer holiday mode in June, Micheál Brett is already turning his attentions to Christmas in his craft workshop on the family farm, just outside Athlone.
It is here, in midsummer, that he starts working on his beautiful wooden reindeer, each with a big red nose, cards, dotty giant mushrooms, slate Christmas decorations, door wreaths and garden signs in a bid to be ready to open his craft shop on 16 November.
He finds inspiration all around him in the countryside, collecting pieces of wood around the farm, slates from an old shed, branches along the tree-lined driveway for his reindeer antlers and acorns for his decorations.
Micheál (32), who has an intellectual disability, is assisted in his endeavours by support workers from the Muiríosa Foundation, who help him to live independently in Athlone and travel in and out to his family home daily to do his crafts in nearby Fardrum.
First craft memory
“In national school I made an angel for the Christmas tree, and every year I still put it up there,” he says, recalling his very first craft memory.
Encouraged by his family and support workers to nurture his creativity, he originally started making Christmas decorations back in 2013 with slates from an old shed that was being re-roofed and has been adding to his repertoire ever since.
“I wash the slates, varnish them and then arrange them and decorate them with the figurines like Santa and a candle or lights,” Micheál explains, before bringing me inside to his craft room where he finishes his pieces. “This is where the magic happens,” he smiles shyly before showing off the Aladdin’s cave of Christmas baubles, lights and colour.
Directing Irish Country Living to the latest decoration he has made that morning before our arrival, Micheál points out the different features on the slate – an acorn he has collected, dried and painted – and parts of an old Christmas tree he has cut up and painted to give a snow effect. There is a jolly-looking snowman perched on top too.
Another big hit are his tall wooden reindeer or painted mushrooms, which many people use as garden ornaments.He puts together the mushrooms in his workshop. There are several steps to do this, he demonstrates, showing how he fills the container with concrete before leaving it to dry for four weeks. Then there is work sanding the wooden mushroom and priming and sealing before his favourite part – getting the paintbrush out. “I like painting the mushrooms and doing the dots.”
Micheál Brett pictured with one of Micheál’s hand-crafted reindeer. \ David Ruffles
Micheál says he “changes things up every year”, so his new additions to the range for this Christmas are decorated lanterns, painted glass pieces and festive door wreaths. He shows off a newly made wreath on the front door of Fardrum House – which dates back to 1825 – during our photo shoot.
Unsurprisingly, this is Micheál’s favourite time of the year. “I love Christmas. I love the build-up, the excitement, the lights and the atmosphere. I like shopping and decorating the house too,” he replies.
Asked how he feels when people buy his crafts to decorate their homes at markets, the talented crafter simply says, “I feel happy. I love going to markets because it’s fun. I like meeting people,” he says, pointing to a sign in the garden which simply says Micheál’s Crafts.
As well as the shop at his family home on 16 November, he will attend a Christmas market in Ferbane, Co Offaly, on 30 November, another in Ballymore, Co Westmeath on 7 December and a pop-up shop at Jazz Pharmaceuticals in Monksland, Co Roscommon.
Away from crafts, Micheál says he enjoys watching classic Coronation Street or history programmes on YouTube, especially anything about World War I and World War II. He is also a big fan of Justin Bieber and Beyoncé. Every Sunday he enjoys coming out to see his mother, Deirdre Flinn, and family and loves the leaves on the tall trees near his home and seeing the animals in the fields. He points out several trees planted by his late father Jim.
Micheál Brett pictured with his support worker Valeria and some of his crafts ahead of his Christmas shop opening on 16 November. \ David Ruffles
Circus fascination
Another thing that fascinates Micheál is the circus, and he channelled his dream of being a ringmaster and owning a circus into inspiration for two children’s books, Micheál and the Magical Circus in 2016 and a sequel, Micheál and the Magical Circus Returns in 2021.
“When I was a kid I used to love going to the circus. I was obsessed with the circus, the performers and the atmosphere,” he says, excitedly. “The yard was my circus [where he put on shows] when I was young.”
He was at a wedding recently where there were circus performers as entertainment, which he really enjoyed. “But my least favourite are the clowns because they come up to and scare you,” adds Micheál. On the prospect of another book, he admits he is thinking about publishing a new circus story in the future.
Set up in 2009, the Person-Centred Wing of the Muiríosa Foundation delivers individualised support to people with an intellectual disability. Micheál lives independently with supports as part of this programme, which is funded by the HSE.
Each arrangement is bespoke and built on the ideal of living a full and inclusive life. Particular focus is given to important areas such as home, education, employment and active participation in society.
“We support Micheál to live as independently as possible by teaching him life skills, like using the bus, going from point A to B,” says support worker Valeria Lungu of the Muiríosa Foundation, one of five on his team. “We also work with him on crafts, some parts of which he might need help with,” she adds.
“What people want is usually very ordinary but seen as an extraordinary if you have a disability,” a spokesperson for the Muiríosa Foundation says.
Before leaving, Micheál explains he is going to be very busy over the next few weeks, but he is really looking forward to meeting his customers. Afterwards he’ll stock up on craft supplies just before Christmas, when there are generous discounts, before taking a break from January to March.
Then he’s ready to start his planning for his Christmas craft journey all over again for 2026.
One of Micheál's hand-crafted wooden reindeer. \ David Ruffles
Micheál’s Craft Shop opens on 16 November at Fardrum House, Athlone N37WR40 from 11am to 3pm. For more information call 087 7866442. See @micheals_crafts on Instagram or Facebook.
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