![[Staging] Willie Duggan](https://staging.willieduggan.com/content/uploads/2017/10/logo.svg){kind=logo}
Since 1935
Light has always been at the centre of our family’s story.
Our story
Three generations of lighting design in Ireland
Our grandfather, Willie Duggan, founded the business in Kilkenny in 1935, as electricity was just beginning to shape Ireland, and collaborated with European creators at the Kilkenny Design workshops.
Our father, also Willie Duggan, and our mother, Ellen, grew it into Ireland’s leading designer lighting supplier, introducing lighting design, bespoke lighting and European designer brands to the country. Today the business is run by the third generation, sister and brother Monica and Willie Duggan.
We believe light isn’t just about design. It’s about life itself.
The Duggan family
The team
The designers, specialists and family behind every project.
Willie grew up in the family business, stacking boxes, wiring fittings and making deliveries. He went on to study engineering and then lighting design. After working as a lighting designer in London he returned to lead our design team. You can also find Willie chasing a ball round the rugby pitch, at a gig or threading the boards on stage.
Monica grew up with a screwdriver & bulb in her hands before she started to 'hassle' the boss! After gallivanting around the world & getting an education she worked in all areas of the business, and was a natural fit for Sales. She does her best thinking struggling up a mountain, hiking a trail or beating herself up in the gym!
Helena is our Creative Director and a stickler for Gotham medium and Pantone 021 on all things Willie Duggan. In her spare time she's a children's writer. Her first book in the Perfect trilogy A Place Called Perfect was published to great success in August 2017.
Dave works on all aspects of lighting design and is the go to guy for lighting calculations, technical info and all those pesky details which can make or break a project. He is an avid motorsport fan and is forever playing with the latest gadgets. Dave comes recommended by 4 out of 5 people that recommend things.
John is our resident technical expert. The first call for challenging projects and always there when things don’t go to plan. When he is not in the office he can often be found fishing on the river Nore or heading to a rock concert. He does play the odd round of golf but would like to play more.
Emily is a graduate architect with a passion for thoughtful design and creativity. After travelling across Asia following college, she was inspired by the role lighting plays in shaping spaces and atmosphere, something that continues to influence her human-centric approach to design. Outside the office, you’ll find Emily reading, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time at live music gigs.
Marina is an architect with interior design experience. She particularly enjoys developing new lighting designs and experimenting in the darkroom to test different lighting effects and moods. A proud Brazilian from Recife, Marina loves good food, listens to almost every kind of music, and is slightly obsessed with true crime podcasts.
Our process
Explore. Experiment. Experience.
Our experiential studio and darkroom bring lighting design to life. It’s where we test fittings and effects, and discover how light works with materials, textures and colour, before anything is committed on site.
Visit the studio
Our studio in Kilkenny is open by appointment. We’d love to show you around.
When was Willie Duggan Lighting founded?
Willie Duggan founded the business in Kilkenny in 1935, at a time when electricity was just beginning to shape Ireland.
Who runs Willie Duggan Lighting today?
The business is run by the third generation of the Duggan family, sister and brother Monica and Willie Duggan, who are joint Managing Directors.
Where is the Willie Duggan Lighting studio?
Our studio is at 25-26 Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Leggetsrath West, Kilkenny.
Can I visit the studio?
Yes. The studio is open by appointment. Contact us on +353 (0) 56 776 4308 or [email protected] to arrange a visit.
What is in the studio?
Our experiential studio includes a darkroom for testing fittings and lighting effects, and a co-creative space with consultation and meeting rooms, an auditorium and desks for hire.
Who is on the Willie Duggan Lighting team?
Our team brings together lighting designers, graduate lighting designers with backgrounds in architecture, technical and operations specialists, and the Duggan family, who lead the business.
