Dublin design · Made here
Our story begins centuries before the brand. Discover the people, places and traditions behind Clover Rua.
I’m Anita Elliott, a sixth-generation Dublin-based artist and designer. Clover Rua is my homage to Ireland, shaped by generations of artisans in my family and by a love of the beauty of Dublin City and the country I call home. From buildings, bridges and signposts to language and the small details of everyday life, inspiration is everywhere. Through hand drawing and screen printing, Clover Rua’s collections are brought to life.
Explore the collections
Our Environment
Sustainability has been considered at every stage of Clover Rua’s process since the beginning. We choose our materials and work with suppliers carefully, looking for quality, longevity and a lighter environmental impact wherever possible.
Provenance
Three generations of my family were born on Wood Quay, on the banks of the River Liffey and for six generations Dublin has been home. The Liffey has always been part of our day-to-day lives, and perhaps that’s why place matters so much to me.
Dublin isn’t simply somewhere I live and work, it’s in my DNA. It was inevitable that it would become my muse, inspiring the visual language that runs through my work.
Patrick Porter, my great-great-great-grandfather, was born in 1783 and lived at 10 Wood Quay, Dublin. He worked as a bootmaker.
He married Margaret Porter at St Michael and John's, Wood Quay (Smock Alley Theatre).
Died: 1859, at 10 Wood Quay, Dublin.
Francis Mc Auley, my great-grandfather, was born at 10 Wood Quay, Dublin. He worked as a baker at Jacob's.
He married Anne Larttin at St Michael and John's, Smock Alley Theatre.
Died: 1947, at Martin Street, Portobello, Dublin.
At 19, my grandmother Anne Mc Auley was working as a camera hand and photographic developer at Kodak Ireland, as recorded in the 1926 census. She was a phenomenal knitter, baker and cook, who inspired me more than I knew.
1907–1989
I graduated in Textile Design from NCAD, becoming the first my family to graduate from college, my work is featured in The Irish Times graduate exhibition review.
My collection, a homage to Dublin, draws on the inherited crafts of generations of women in my family.
In 2013, Clover Rua was born. A few months into its operation,the business was successfully selected by Dublin City Local Enterprise Office to exhibit at Showcase Ireland.
There, Clover Rua won overall Best Product Award in the Home category, awarded by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland for The Liffey Bridges , hand-drawn and hand-screen-printed design
The design was inspired by my beloved grandfather’s books on the city’s architecture, which we pored over together throughout my childhood.The Liffey Bridges is a homage to my grandfather , honouring his love of Dublin City, its history which he passed on to me.
A living family history — with more of the story to come.
Featured piece
A piece that captures the warmth, character and graphic language at the heart of CloverRua.
The CloverRua edit
A considered edit of the pieces customers return to — made to live with, gift and keep.
