Northern designers take top three craft prizes

Craftworkers from the North of Ireland took the first three prizes at the RDS annual National Crafts Competition 2006 announced yesterday.

Jerome McCann, a goldsmith from Omagh, Co Tyrone, took the overall award of excellence for his entry in precious metals. His intricate sterling silver bracelet, each piece hand cast in a diamond stud decoration, was the unanimous choice of the international jury.

There were over 400 craft entries in 20 categories from professional and amateur craft designers for the competition, the oldest in the country.

Second place overall went to Jacquie Brachi, from Co Antrim, for her calligraphy piece, Delight in Disorder, while the new entrants award went to Raymond Connor Kennedy, from Coleraine, Co Derry, (right) for his classical guitar in musical instruments. A rocking stool made by Graham Clarke, from London, took the graduate prize in furniture.

McCann (27), a graduate of Belfast College of Art, started making jewellery in his final year and completed a two-year jewellery skills course in Kilkenny. His €6,500 prize will help to set up a workshop.

Raymond Connor Kennedy, a lecturer in fine art at Limavady College of Further Education, became interested in the construction of classical guitars while a student at Belfast School of Music. His winning instrument, with a rosette inlay design, was crafted from seven different woods, including alpine spruce, Indian and Brazilian rosewoods, and ebony. It costs €3,750.

The entries will feature in the exhibition alongside the student art winners at the RDS Horse Show, August 9th-13th and continuing on August 14th-18th.