Dermot O'Neill's Killarneyware Trinket Box

Niall Mullen appeared on The Mooney Show on Radio 1 on Thursday 19th July. Listeners called and brought in antiques to the studio which Niall cast his critical eye over. Celebrity gardener and antique enthusiast Dermot O’Neill brought in a number of pieces including some bog oak items and a Killarneyware trinket box.

Listeners brought in a number of interesting items including a Swiss music box from around 1840, a German bracket clock and an early ‘karaoke machine’ originally housed in Castlefreak but which has been in O’Donovan’s hotel in Cork for the past hundred years. Derek Mooney was a big fan of this

Jack B. Yeats lithograph/sketch

piece though Niall was less impressed. Niall was very excited about Una from Newry’s item, a Jack B. Yeats lithograph or sketch. If it is an original sketch by the Yeats brother a conservative estimate would be €20,000!

Niall also let slip that Rod Stewart had recently been antique shopping in Dublin’s Francis Street and had spent approximately €12,500 on Irish antiques!

Niall Mullen on Mooney Show Part 1

Niall Mullen on the Mooney Show Part 2

Commencing on September 29^th and 30^th September for 6 weeks

They will cover all aspects of restoration from cabinet making to wood finishing.

Wednesday evenings will be cabinet making and Thursdays will be wood finishing .

They will be individual courses and are limited to 15 per course.

Price is €120 per course and runs from 7 pm till 9pm.

Stuart McGrath was awarded the IADA bursary in 2003. It allowed him to continue his studies and he has a BA in Fine Art from Dun Laoghaire Institute of Fine Art, a Diploma in Marble Carving from Art Space, Valdicastello, Pietra-Santa, Carrara, Italy and a Degree in Architectural Stone Carving from City & Guilds of London Art School.

One of Ireland’s leading stone cutters, Stuart works by hand using traditional methods. He has won many awards and accolades for his work, most recently winning first prize at the Royal Dublin Society Craft Competition stone & wood carving category in 2009. He has exhibited work at the Sculpture in Context exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens and has been commissioned to design and carve commemorative stones for the United Nations, The Dublin Docklands Development Authority and ATD Fourth World Charity, close to the Famine Memorial along the Dublin Quays, to commemorate World Poverty Day.

We recently caught up with Stuart to see what he has been up to since being awarded the bursary.
What did you use the bursary for? Was it to begin or continue studies?

What would be your advice to anyone thinking about applying for the 2010 bursary?
I would say it’s more than just a bursary of money, it’s a great opportunity to meet people who value and are in the trade of utilising a talent and skill that you are training for and will be great network of support in the future. In these times when the economy is uncertain, clients are looking for people with specialised skills to complete or restore furniture, collectables, objects de arte, sculptures or other curious. This bursary is a great help to the costs of a specialised course, tools and materials in restoration and conservation which will give you a unique set of skills.

More information on Stuart McGrath can be found on his website.

Having grown up immersed in a family run antiques business from an early age Eoin developed a love and passion for antiques and decorative art. After his leaving Certificate, Eoin attended the Furniture Design & Cabinet Making course at G.M.I.T. Letterfrack in Galway, where he was educated in the techniques of cabinet making and furniture design.

On successful completion of this two year course Eoin was awarded the IADA Bursary in 2001 which allowed him to continue his studies. He commenced an intensive course in Restoration and Conservation at West Dean College in England. The emphasis of this course was on conservation and restoration of antique furniture using appropriate techniques and methods.

Having gained experience working in the area of furniture restoration Eoin attended Buckinghamshire Chilterns University in 2005 where he completed his Masters in Restoration and Conservation. This provided an invaluable opportunity to learn practical skills and hone the hand skills he had previously acquired.  It also offered him an opportunity to develop a deep understanding to the history of furniture.

Eoin’s final year thesis, entitled What Factors Affected Change in Irish Furniture Between 1800 & 1850, brought together all the elements that he had learned in his previous experiences and allowed him to focus on the historical elements that impacted on the development of Irish Furniture.

Eoin is now running Straffan Antiques Conservation & Restoration Workshop offering a complete conservation and restoration service that provides a sympathetic approach by qualified restorers. His team of restorers are qualified to Masters and Degree level in the art of Antique Conservation & Restoration. Their emphasis is on conservation, using appropriate finishes and traditional restoration techniques of the 18^th & 19^th Century to restore antique items to their appropriate condition.

The brothers, who are third generation antique dealers, always intended moving to Francis Street as such a large proportion of their customer base comes from the Dublin area. To find out more about their new showroom and to view some of their current pieces check out their member page.

Paul Brereton is the fourth generation to have joined John Brereton Jewellers which specialises in both new and antique jewellery. Paul is a Gemologist having graduated from the Gemological Institute of America in 2006.

James Wray & Co. is a beautiful art gallery in the heart of Belfast. Focusing on important 20^th century Irish and international paintings and sculpture they hold regular exhibitions as well as exhibiting at art and antique fairs.

Designer Michael Mortell’s gallery in the Central Hotel chambers features a wide range of exclusive and rare items specialising in early 20^th century furniture, fine art and lighting.

Finally, the well-known Dawson Jewellers, which has been trading for many years has joined our ranks. It is a family run business owned by Ken McDonagh which has a beautiful range of jewellery and watches.

These are welcome additions to the IADA and we are thrilled to have them join our ranks!