Fumbally Exchange (pronounced fum-BAL-ee (/fʌmˈbæli/) (FEx) is an Irish nonprofit collective of designers, creative professionals, artists and entrepreneurs operating from shared workspaces, galleries and studios. Headquartered in The Liberties, Dublin and Waterford Viking Triangle,[1][2] it was founded on Dublin’s Fumbally Lane in April 2010 by architect George Boyle following the closure of Murray Ó Laoire Architects during the Irish economic downturn. Envisaged as a "recession response" to support individuals, enterprises or other entities impacted by fallout from the Great Recession, specifically in Ireland's design industries,[3][4] It grew quickly into a coherent creative community with a civic mandate, leveraging low-cost subscriptions and skillsets of members to cultivate projects of urban regeneration, neighbourhood consolidation, innovation in start-up enterprise, repurposing old buildings and vacant places/spaces, providing experiential, experimental and exploratory learning modules and fostering a collaborative can-do culture among small, micron and nano businesses.[5] In 2011, the initiative won the Diageo Arthur Guinness Fund Social Entrepreneur Award,[6][7] and a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland award in 2012.[8][9] By 2012, affiliate branches were active across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Europe. In 2013, the Dublin HQ moved to the former Hely's Printing Works on Dame Lane in Dublin's City Centre, and after the sale of that premises in 2018 [10] it refurbished and moved to Argus House, a former shopfitters' workshop in Blackpitts. Back in the heart of the Liberties, it continues to curate shared space, hosting events, exhibitions, broadcasts and evolving collaborative programmes for creative practitioners.
 | |
| Type | Company Limited by Guarantee |
|---|---|
| Industry | Culture |
| Founded | Dublin City (2010) |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , Ireland |
Area served |
|
Key people | George Boyle (Strategy Lead, 2010)
Ciarán Ferrie (Community Director, 2010) Terry Quigley (Finance Officer, 2010) |
| Website | fumballyexchange |
History
editFumbally Exchange was established as a not-for-profit design and innovation hub in April 2010 on Fumbally Lane in Dublin’s Liberties and was formally launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore in June 2011 by which time there were over 40 start-up businesses operating from the space.[11][12] The name was partly inspired by the Metropolitan Exchange in Brooklyn, New York, a collaborative workplace that Time magazine listed as one of the "top ten places to watch in 2010".[13] In a 2011 feature on the aftermath of the economic crash in Europe, the Wall Street Journal highlighted the Fumbally Exchange's innovative response to the challenges facing the country in the wake of massive unemployment and the economic downturn.[14]
In 2012 a second office was opened in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin by Minister for Health, James Reilly, where it was seen as a vital step in the economic regeneration of the town.[15] In 2013, the head office relocated to the former Hely’s Printing Works building on Dame Lane in Dublin’s city centre and opened a new location in Waterford’s Viking Quarter supported by Waterford City and County Council.[16][17] In 2014, the Dame Lane office was formally launched by President Michael D. Higgins who praised the community for using their “creative capital” to “make a response in difficult times”.[18][19] By 2016, the Fumbally Exchange had a sister office, MEME Exchange, in Ravenna, Italy.[20][21]
In 2018 there were more than 100 people working at the Dame Lane offices when the building was sold by its owner Eir.[22] The community relocated to its current location on Blackpitts in Dublin's Liberties later that year.[1] Notable members and past members of the community include Tramp Press, Ellen Dunne, Raidió Rí-Rá and Conor Horgan.[23]
Activities
editFumbally Exchange has hosted regular exhibitions and talks since it first opened in Fumbally Lane.[24][25] From 2013, it operated a pop-up shop at its Dame Lane location which featured exhibitions, design showcases, and other events.[26][27] Artists who have exhibited there include Ciaran McCoy (aka PIGSY) and Conor Horgan.[28][29] It hosted the Institute of Designers in Ireland annual awards ceremony in 2016 and the Architectural Association of Ireland's awards ceremony in 2018.[30][31] Since 2025, the Irish language radio station Raidió Rí-Rá has broadcast from a studio at Fumbally Exchange, Blackpitts.[32]
References
edit- 1 2 "How Dublin Works: The Fumbally Exchange". dublin.ie. 12 December 2016.
- ↑ WaterfordLive.ie (4 August 2020). "Waterford's Fumbally Exchange a lifeline for businesses in times of crisis". www.waterfordlive.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Fumbally Exchange | Listings". The Liberties Dublin.
- ↑ "Creatively designing a career after redundancy". Irish Independent. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Case Studies - George Boyle of Fumbally Exchange". localenterprise.ie. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Social Entrepreneurs receive €650000 investment". thejournal.ie. 8 September 2011.
- ↑ "Arthur Guinness fund and Ireland's social entrepreneurship upsurge". 3 February 2012.
- ↑ "Social entrepreneurs with big ideas shortlisted for €775k prize fund". thejournal.ie. 12 June 2012.
- ↑ "Social Entrepreneurs Ireland: the Impact Series: George Boyle of Fumbally Exchange".
- ↑ Pollak, Sorcha. "Fumbally Exchange struggles to find new home after sale of building". The Irish Times.
- ↑ Taylor, Charlie. "Gilmore praises business centre as inspiring". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Exchange project offers hope as businesses 'come together'". Irish Independent. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "George Boyle of Fumbally Exchange". www.localenterprise.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ Najberg, Adam. "Cutting Back: Ireland Deals With Property Bust". WSJ. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Start-ups given a helping hand". Irish Independent. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "FEx Dublin – Fumbally Exchange". Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Fumbally Exchange Waterford officially opened – Fumbally Exchange". 29 May 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ Daly, Susan (22 April 2014). "Meet the creative entrepreneurs who fought the slump - together". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ Ireland, Office of the President of. "Media Library | Speeches | President of Ireland". president.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Design: George Boyle". Totally Dublin. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Meme Exchange, Esperimenti di riuso urbano - Ravenna, Italy". www.meme-exchange.eu. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ Pollak, Sorcha. "Fumbally Exchange struggles to find new home after sale of building". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Members – Fumbally Exchange". Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ Heil, Andreas (5 October 2012). "COLLABORATION week in the Fumbally Exchange". Innen Interiors. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ Heil, Andreas (12 October 2012). "Andreas of [innen] speaking at Design Dialogues II". Innen Interiors. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sample a pop-up". Irish Independent. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Events – Fumbally Exchange". 29 November 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ McCarthy, Fiona. "Pigsy: Nostalgia's Not What It Was | IMAGE.ie". Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Berlin Story". Conor Horgan. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "IDI Irish Design Awards Exhibition Opens At Fumbally Exchange". HouseAndHome.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "AAI Awards Evening". IAF. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ "Raidió Rí-Rá le cloisteáil anois ar an gcóras digiteach raidió DAB". Tuairisc. 24 June 2025.