Made in Mourne is a non-profit social enterprise based in the heart of the Mournes aiming to provide a fresh and stimulating environment to support and celebrate talented local creatives and showcase their work.

It is a community crowd collaboration project based in Kilkeel, nestled at the base of the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland.

How did it come about?

MADE in Mourne was originated by Jenna Stevenson, a young entrepreneur from Kilkeel. In 2017 Jenna, a mum of one and with a baby on the way, made the decision to move her artisan food business, that was predominantly based in Belfast, back to Kilkeel.

“Kilkeel relies too much on one big aerospace company and fishing. We need a broader industry base in Kilkeel and the Mourne Region, more opportunities for our children. If my generation don’t step up and make this happen, no one will. The space became available, we grabbed it despite lacking money and a plan – so we came up with a plan and a brand, set ourselves 100 days and openly said to the community ‘Join us’. And they did! 98 days later, we opened.

It has been amazing to watch and made me very proud to live in the Mourne Region. This is definitely the world I want my children to grow up in! It’s a long journey ahead, but we’re off to a great start!”

Jenna Stevenson, Founder MADE in Mourne.

The space houses the ‘MADE in Mourne’ shop that sells locally made original gifts, unique home deco arts & crafts and handmade artisan food. On the first floor is the HUB, a creative space complete with meeting rooms, workspaces and an honesty coffee bar for start-ups, small businesses, business folk and community groups to meet, network, collaborate and grow businesses; the top floor hosts the STUDIO, with a range creative companies.

A not-for-profit model, the plan is to make the building commercially successful to be able to fund local initiatives, both creative and commercial that help to grow the local creative economy, provide more jobs and help to sustain those who live and work in the Mourne Region.

If you are a creative, local to the Mourne area and would like to get involved in Made in Mourne, contact: [email protected] or visit their website.