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RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Dublin silversmith 'overwhelmed' by support after robbery
A silversmith who had most of his products stolen in a burglary at his Dublin workshop in April has said he was "overwhelmed" by the support he received. Séamus Gill, who is one of Ireland's most distinguished contemporary silversmiths, said that around 40 years of work had been put into some of the pieces taken, many of which were originals. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that while the theft had left him "devastated and depressed", he received a lot of public support while he was at a very low ebb. "At that stage a lot of the people in the tutoring craft community knew about it and were in contact," he said. "An awful lot of it was people who have my work going back over the last 40 years or so and with handmade jewellery, you get attached to a piece. "But what I didn't realise was how strong the link was to the person who created the piece, and it was lovely. "That overwhelming amount of support that came from so many people, especially through Instagram. And I still haven't got back to everyone yet." Mr Gill said he has tidied up his studio and has returned to making pieces again. "There's something very basic about when you're making work that it's very therapeutic. You're totally focused, yet you're lost in the flow. There's something very natural about creating," he said. "So when I got back into making, I took a small piece of silver sheet that was left behind and I started using that just to start making and working on that. "It developed a small little sculptural pendant and I called it Lasóg - las being the Irish for light or flame and óg being the young or little. "I just thought Lasóg was just a lovely word for it like this." Mr Gill said Stonechat Jewellers in the Westbury Mall have put the pendant on sale and will sell it commission free to help him get back on his feet and get the business going again. The robbery at his studio is still under investigation and none of the missing pieces have yet been returned.
Sunday World
26-04-2025
- Sunday World
Dublin silversmith has ‘lifetime's work' stolen from studio during break-in
HEARTLESS THEFT | Séamus Gill and has had his work displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland, said his studio was 'robbed of everything' he had inside. Silversmith Seámus Gill said decades of work have been taken from his Dublin studio, including original jewellery, "one of a kind legacy pieces, prototypes, and the full creative development of my upcoming collection". Photo: Seámus Gill. Séamus Gill, who presented the late Pope Francis with a bespoke cruet set during his 2018 visit to Ireland, and has had his work displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland, said his studio was 'robbed of everything' he had inside. He said irreplaceable original and one-off pieces of jewellery and design work were all stolen in the incident, amounting to decades worth of the award-winning silversmith's work. His studio in Dublin was broken into during the Easter weekend, with silver pieces he has been working on 'over a few years' all taken during the burglary. 'It's with a very heavy heart that I share some devastating news – my studio has been broken into over the Easter (weekend)," he said in a statement shared to Instagram this morning. "Decades of work have been taken: original jewellery, including one of a kind legacy pieces, prototypes, and the full creative development of my upcoming collection. This is more than a theft – it's the loss of a lifetime's creative journey,' he said. Mr Gill said the pieces were both of "deep personal significance' and 'part of Ireland's contemporary design and craft story – irreplaceable works that represent years of exploration, learning, and craft.' He added: "I'm appealing to anyone who might have seen or heard or know anything — no matter how small — to please come forward. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SÉAMUS GILL (@seamusgillsilversmith) "Your information could help recover these works and bring some light back into what has been an incredibly dark time. I would appreciate people sharing this to their networks. Please contact the Gardaí at Pearse Street.' Mr Gill said the support he has been given since the incident 'means the world right now'. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland , Mr Gill said his studio was 'robbed of everything that I had in it' last weekend. "I'm a silversmith so I had a number of finished pieces like candlesticks, vases, bowls, beakers, but another aspect of my work is that I make jewellery, it's silversmithing work on a smaller scale, so all my stock was taken.' Mr Gill said many of his works in progress were also stolen, adding: 'Because of the nature of silversmithing, it takes time to make pieces and develop them so some pieces I would be working on over a few years. They were all taken, things like a new jewellery collection that I was making. "I had all the development, the prototypes, the sketch models, that was taken. A number of legacy pieces that I would have. for every jewellery collection that I would make, I'd make an original piece with the original hallmarks and the date letter in it. That was all taken, so work over the last 40 years.' The silversmith said he is 'grateful' that a silver tea service set he made is currently on temporary exhibition at the National Museum. "At least they didn't get that.' He created a cruet set, which holds water and wine when it is brought to the altar, for the late Pope Francis when he visited Ireland on his papal visit in 2018. "The Pope was a very humble man, and he didn't have many worldly goods, so when he came to Ireland, I was dealing with the Vatican and they knew he didn't have his own cruet set, so I made the cruet set that was presented to him when he came here." Asked how he plans to replace what was stolen, Mr Gill said: 'Well, it can't be. I mean, this is a lot of one-off pieces, it's a cultural legacy as well as my work, my lifetime's work, but – sorry, I have to be careful, I keep breaking down – I suppose I would like to appeal to people out there that if anyone sees anything or if anyone is aware of anything, all the work is silver which is unusual. "There aren't many silversmiths left. All of it is hallmarked, it has an identifiable signature, and it carries the Irish hallmark.'
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Irish Examiner
'It's a lifetime's work': Silversmith 'devastated' after thieves stole 'irreplaceable' jewellery
An award-winning silversmith, whose pieces have been presented to Pope Francis among others, has issued a public appeal for help after his Dublin studio was broken into over the Easter weekend. Séamus Gill, who uses traditional skills to design and create jewellery, silverware and sculpture, said it was with a 'heavy heart' he shared the 'devastating news' of the robbery. 'Decades of work have been taken: original jewellery, including one of a kind legacy pieces, prototypes, and the full creative development of my upcoming collection. This is more than a theft — it's the loss of a lifetime's creative journey. "These pieces are not only of deeply personal significance, but they also are a part of Ireland's contemporary design and craft story — irreplaceable works that represent years of exploration, learning and craft.' The cruet set by Séamus Gill which was presented to Pope Francis when he visited Ireland in 2018. In addition to Pope Francis, Mr Gill has designed pieces which have been presented to Bob Geldof and Cillian Murphy, among others. He is appealing to members of the public who might have seen or heard anything — no matter how small — to come forward. 'Your information could help recover these works and bring some light back in to what has been an incredibly dark time. Please contact the gardaí at Pearse Street.' Mr Gill told RTÉ he was deeply upset at the loss of 40 years of his work. ""For every jewellery collection that I would make, I'd make an original piece with the original hallmarks and the date letter in it. That was all taken, so work over the last 40 years. "It's a lot of one-off pieces, it's a cultural legacy as well as my work, my lifetime's work. "All the work is silver, which is unusual, there aren't many silversmiths left ... it has an identifiable signature, and it carries the Irish hallmark.' Read More Academics cancel US travel over fears of harassment and visa issues at border control
