The Irish Woodturners' Guild (IWG) was founded in 1983 and is the worlds’ oldest woodturning association. Since then, it has flourished to over 500 active members, and 18 Chapters across the island of Ireland. The main objective of the IWG is to promote the craft of woodturning.

Chapters are the lifeblood of the Guild and in many instances are the first contact points for new members. Chapters organise monthly meetings, with live turning demonstrations, and welcome new members as well as members from other Chapters.

The highlight of the year is the National Seminar, a two-day event where members gather together to watch world renowned turners demonstrate, socialise, and to take part in the annual ‘Chapter Challenge’ competition.

Woodturning is believed to have developed around 1500 b.c. in Ancient Egypt, with the earliest definitive record coming from a tomb carving dated 320 b.c. The lathe is thought to be one of mankind’s first machines, with versions used throughout history from primitive hand driven mechanisms through to today’s precision engineered models.