Paper Conservation Workshop

As part of HeritageWeek 2026, The Clarke Museum of Irish History is organising a very special workshop with our incredibly talented document conservationist Benjamin van de Wetering.

Benjamin was born into a family of craft workers. His Father was a cabinet maker and his Uncle a trade bookbinder. After attending art school in the Netherlands he went onto study hand bookbinding and subsequently book and paper conservation at the 'Opleiding Restauratoren' now part of the University of Amsterdam. In the late nineties he moved to Ireland and set up The Ox Bindery with his wife Ineke.

Benjamin will be running a free paper conservation workshop here at the museum on Thursday 20th August 2026 from 11am (workshop will last approximately 90 minutes)
As you can imagine this is a unique opportunity to view the incredibly complex and meticulous craft of conservation by a true master of the art. In addition attendees can bring one paper based item of their own for assessment (newspaper, photographs, letters etc.)

Spaces are going to be strictly limited so if you wish to express your interest in a place on the workshop please call The Clarke Museum of Irish History on 096 73508, Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm.