Jaz Webb
Reviving our céilí culture.
People in Dublin are craving genuine human connection, so what better way to bring people together than a céilí? All you need is yourself, a bit of room, and a “feck it” attitude. Céilí le Chéile is an initiative that is creating space for people to move their bodies, let themselves go, and just have some fun.
The Damhsa (Dance) public campaign encourages people to interrupt their everyday routines and reconnect with Irish dance and cultural heritage. However, it is not limited to those who grew up in Ireland. The beauty of a céilí is that it’s so accessible. Whether you’re sober or have had a few, old or young, done it at the Gaeltacht or never before, everyone can join in their own way.
Céilí le Chéile wanted Dublin to come together for a public céilí in the heart of the city. With live trad music playing modern favourites, it offers a break from the usual nightlife scene while still being the perfect excuse for a party.
Legacy is a key element of the campaign, and as a way of keeping people dancing, “Céilí Kits” are handed out. These contain everything you need to know about how to host your own céilí. They also contain step-by-step guides on the Walls of Limerick and the Siege of Ennis (the basics of any good céilí).
Honestly, it’s not even about the dancing. It’s about getting people together, having a laugh, and exploring your own version of Irishness.
What I love about this project is that it’s such a fun solution to the feeling of stagnation and understimulation many young people in Ireland feel. Participation doesn’t need to be formal or instructional to be meaningful.
Seeing my concept actually come to life when shooting content was unbelievably rewarding. Not only were my models having a blast and forgetting the camera was rolling, but passersby were also enjoying seeing young people just having a dance in the middle of the day. I feel I have tapped into something that could really exist and benefit our society. I definitely will be hosting my own céilís after this!
In regard to the future of this project, I will be trying to make public céilís happen, so if this also interests you, please get in contact!
My thesis examines the growing visibility and popularity of Irish national identity in fashion culture since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the Irish Gen Z age demographic.
It argues that while Irish national identity has long existed, the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a new kind of visual, performative, and aesthetic expression of national identity through fashion. Social media usage (which increased during the lockdowns) has carried, sustained and amplified this shift through to today.
It analyses how Irishness is produced, represented, regulated, consumed, and internalised within digital and commercial spaces. Fada, Siobh’s Knits, and Ditsy Bits serve as key case studies, demonstrating how heritage symbols, language, and everyday Irish experiences are engaged with and reworked into contemporary identity markers.
The findings of this thesis insinuate that Irishness, since 2020, operates in a softer, more aesthetic form of nationalism, generated and sustained from social media trends and everyday fashion practices, rather than by blatant political ideologies. Irishness has now become a lifestyle and a form of personality trait for Gen Z. This research contributes to discussions of fashion, national identity, and digital culture by demonstrating how Irishness is actively lived, styled, and shared in twenty-first-century youth culture.
Dia dhuit! Hey there, I’m Jaz, and I love creating meaningful, mindful, human-centred solutions that sit at the heart of my work. I’m always asking my audience (and myself); Why? Why? Why? I want people to actually think and reflect while engaging with my work, and that’s what I’ll always continue to do.
I’m most interested in research, strategy, image making, branding, and motion, but I’m equally excited to see where my skills can grow, evolve, and take me next. I’m driven by strong concepts, storytelling, clever copy, and making the abstract tangible and substantial. I aim to create positive change using thought-provoking, empowering design strategies, without losing my sense of fun and curiosity.
