Ella Mcsweeney's Posts

“The cold gleam of silver wasn’t just irresistible to the people of the Viking Age, but to generations of the Irish ever since”. So said the late UCD historian Francoise Henry who recognised that if there’s one metal that’s strongly associated with the Irish, it’s silver. From early Christian church chalices, to 18th century forks, to contemporary earrings and necklaces - the use of silver by craftsmen and women in Ireland has a long history. But it has been difficult to keep the craft of silversmithing alive. It’s thought there are about 12 silversmiths left in the country. Ella McSweeney has visited two of them and she joined Richard this morning.