The Gentian Press is a world-class equipped letterpress and printmaking studio
Located in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Founded by artist, teacher, and designer Conor Burke, the press blends traditional craftsmanship with modern artistic vision. Drawing from centuries-old printing techniques and machinery, the press produces finely crafted books, prints, and ephemera.
Conor began the press after falling in love with letterpress during his studies at NCAD. With equipment sourced and restored from across Europe, The Gentian Press is home to one of the largest collections of letterpress equipment in Ireland. The studio is more than a workspace: it is a hub for education, collaboration, and the revival of lost skills.
With a vision to create a centre of excellence, Gentian Press offers residencies, workshops, and a makerspace that supports creative professionals and students alike. It also aims to revitalise the cultural fabric of Lisdoonvarna through artistic engagement and international collaboration.
Built from the ground up
Our Machines
FAG Swissproof 40:
A precision-built Swiss proofing press designed for layout testing and limited print runs. It provides exceptional control for artists working with intricate wood or lead type compositions. It is an ideal machine for experimenting with layouts and ink densities before moving to production scale.
FAG Control 800:
A highly advanced proofing press from the 1950s, renowned for its pneumatic and electronic controls that enable ultra-precise registration. It is one of fewer than 10 known to exist globally, making it not only a rare piece of equipment but also a collector’s item. Its reliability and print clarity are unmatched, ideal for artists and designers producing fine editions.
Heidelberg Cylinder SBG:
(56 x 77cm) An industrial giant weighing over 8 tonnes, this machine was originally used for high-volume commercial printing. It is the only known Heidelberg cylinder press in Ireland with a restored inking system. Its precision and pressure allow it to handle large-format letterpress printing at scale, perfect for book spreads, posters, and multi-page editions.
Heidelberg Platen (Windmill):
(10 x 15cm) Known for the characteristic windmill motion of its gripper arms, this press is an icon in the world of traditional printing. Gentian Press houses two of these, making small-format jobs like cards, tags, and flyers efficient and beautifully finished. They are also extremely versatile, capable of die-cutting, perforating, and numbering jobs.
Linotype Machine:
Once the backbone of newspaper production, this hot metal typesetting machine casts entire lines (slugs) of text from molten lead. It revolutionised print efficiency in its era. In the studio, it's used for authentic typographic projects, teaching historical methods, and casting unique text blocks that would otherwise be impractical to hand-set.
Ludlow Machine:
A complement to the Linotype, the Ludlow system offers a simpler and quicker setup for casting display sizes and titles. This line-casting system is efficient and flexible for headline composition, offering a practical tool for quick turnaround projects or last-minute editorial adjustments.
Mantech Laser Cutter 100W:
A modern digital fabrication tool, this laser cutter is used for creating intricate relief plates, engraving woodblocks, or customising materials for artistic editions. It allows digital designs to be directly transformed into physical blocks suitable for letterpress, bridging traditional and modern methodologies.
Mantech CNC Router (4x4ft):
This 3-axis CNC is used for carving wood type, large scale relief blocks, or sculptural printing surfaces. It supports experimentation in materials and surface textures, and is essential for producing custom display typography and tactile illustrations.
