On 7 October 2026, the Ambassador of Italy to Ireland, Nicola Faganello, and the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin (IIC), Michela Linda Magrì, inaugurated the exhibition The Nativity Scene: The Legacy of St Francis of Assisi through Italian Design and Irish Craftsmanship at Rathfarnham Castle in Dublin. The exhibition was organised by the Embassy of Italy and the IIC, in collaboration with designer Andrea Vecera, who curated the project.
The exhibition forms part of the commemorations honouring St Francis of Assisi on the 800th anniversary of his death. It celebrates a significant element of Italy’s spiritual and cultural heritage while also serving as a symbolic bridge between Italian and Irish culture.
The initiative was made possible thanks to the support of key partners, including Ireland’s Office of Public Works (OPW), the government body responsible for the country’s historic and architectural heritage, represented at the opening by its Chief Executive, John Conlon, and Head of Collections and Sites, Mary Heffernan. The OPW provided the prestigious venue of Rathfarnham Castle. Another key partner was the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), represented by its Chief Executive, Mary Blanchfield, which facilitated connections with local craftspeople.
This fruitful and multifaceted collaboration has resulted in nine Nativity scenes created specifically for the exhibition by some of the leading figures in Italian design, including numerous Compasso d’Oro award recipients, in dialogue with the sensibilities and expertise of Irish craftspeople. The nine works offer nine original interpretations of the Nativity, creatively exploring, through natural materials and contemporary design languages, the delicate interplay between tradition and innovation, Italian culture and Irish identity.
