Muireann Walshe is a designer of vibrant jewellery with a background in craft design. She earned a BA from the National College of Art and Design in 2011 and has continued to further her education skills to a Master’s in History of Design and Material Culture. Her handiwork has since graced spreads in several magazines in Ireland and abroad and is a prime example of how ambition and hard work will get you onto the long road of success. Totally Dublin met with Muireann to put a pin on just what makes her designs stand out.
You are highly renowned for your modern approach and reproduction of The Tara Brooch. How did you come about this marvellous idea?
It’s one of those projects that has been so integral to my practice over the last few years that I can’t quite remember the exact eureka moment. It originally came about in my third year in NCAD as a self-directed project, which I then developed into my degree work. I am very interested in ancient Irish crafts and Irish history in general. At this time Memphis Design was also featuring in my research and somehow my Tara Brooches were born. When I had the design down I was really pleased with it, there was no changing it and it really worked and conveyed the aesthetic that I wanted. I’ve had people from other countries that have no idea what the Tara Brooch is tell me, “This is like Celtic jewellery from the 1980s!” That makes me happy!
Your specialist craft area has attracted much attention which has led to a great amount of exposure. Can you explain to me what type of awards you have won?
In 2011 I won the Future Makers Overall Student Award; this was huge for me! My work gained a lot of attention at this stage, which were a few months before my end of year Degree Show in NCAD. Future Makers is a grants and awards system set up by the Crafts Council of Ireland every year to help support student and professional makers / craftspeople. It was my Tara Brooches that I entered and won with. I also received a materials grant from Future Makers that year. The prize money significantly helped in the setting up of my jewellery workshop after college.
I also won the New Designers London One Year On Award. New Designers is a huge showcase of around 3,000 recent design graduates that happens every year in London. I exhibited the year before and was asked back the following year to show my work in their One Year On section, here they ask about 50 designers to display their work in this section of the event. As part of their awards ceremony there is an overall winner of the One Year On section. This was an incredible experience, Theo Fennel presented me with my award and the exposure from it has been phenomenal. The award itself was based on design merit and commitment to craft practice.
You are persistently experimenting in order to further your skills. Explain to me what you get up to in your studio.
I moved studios a year ago to The Chocolate Factory on North Kings Inn Street in Dublin 1. So apart from continually adding to and building that I generally experiment with different materials and concepts. I’m not sure how to explain my process, I guess it’s like doodling but in 3D, with blow torches and metal and hammers! I tend to start making something once I have an idea and try to build the sculptural pieces my imagination comes up with. I have loads of half made pieces, which is fine because I might not look at something for a few weeks and when I come back to it. It will have changed in my mind and I can develop on the shape and design. Also making mistakes can be great, when something goes “wrong” it can actually ended up being a great feature in a piece
After many years of learning and discovering your strengths, what do you hope to touch upon next?
I am quite busy with study this year so I hope to just continue tinkering away in my studio and hopefully make some large sculptural art jewellery pieces. I want to move away from commercial pieces for now.
What is your proudest moment to date that still brings a smile to your face?
Meeting Theo Fennel at New Designers, made me giddy!
Care to tell me the most random fact about yourself?
I was a professional stilt walker at age 11!
You can find out more about Muireann’s range at fb.com/muireann.jewellery
Words: Seana Henry
