Irish goldsmithing boasts a rich and fascinating history, dating back to the Bronze Age. The craft has evolved significantly over the centuries, reflecting changing tastes, techniques and cultural influences. The intricate metalwork produced by Irish goldsmiths has been a source of pride for generations, with families passing down heirlooms as a way to preserve their cultural heritage.
One master craftsperson carrying that torch today is Garrett Mallon, who works in the medieval village of Carlingford, Co Louth from his flagship Garrett Mallon Design House, a hub of creativity for those interested in sourcing authentic Irish craft.
Flair for design
From a young age, it was clear Garrett had a flair for art and design, excelling in creative ventures and always sketching. “After leaving school at 15, I decided to do a youth training programme in jewellery design which would be similar to the FÁS programme in place now,” he says. “My journey only properly commenced after being awarded a coveted pre-apprenticeship scholarship in the Sir John Cass School of Arts.”
Garrett says that his father was the driving force and motivation behind him pursuing his career. “He knew from day one that I wasn’t going to go down the academic route and he had a lot of belief in my creative abilities,” he says. “He passed away just two weeks before I went to Sir John Cass School of Art so he was always in the back of my mind to keep going. “After some time, I got into a state of flow and really enjoyed working with gold and silver.”
Following his scholarship in London, Garrett returned to Dublin and began working in jewellery manufacturing.“When I started out, I sat at a bench beside a seasoned goldsmith who had 40 years of knowledge, and who passed it onto me.” As the years went on, Garrett became foreman of the workshop and then in turn passed on his own knowledge to other goldsmiths in the company.
Armed with invaluable experience, Garrett decided to take the leap and go out on his own.
“I relocated my family to Omeath, Co Louth in 2002, where I had my own home purpose-built workshop and I worked there for a number of years,” he says. Garrett then opened his shop, Garrett Mallon Design House, in 2014. Here, he has his own workshop and showcases the work of more than 100 other Irish craftspeople.
“When I initially moved into the shop, some of the locals seemed amazed, saying things like, ‘is that what you do, we thought you worked in a bank’,” he says, laughing. “The ethos of the shop is that everything is made on the island and year on year we like to get new artists in.”
Now in its tenth year, many of the featured designers are friends and colleagues of Garrett’s and he ensures visitors to the Design House hear the story behind the pieces and makers.
Garrett Mallon at his shop. \ Claire Nash
Traditional techniques
When it comes to making jewellery, Garrett describes himself as a traditionalist in his craft.
“When I start creating a new range, I make the initial pattern out of metal and then cast them,” he says. “A lot of younger goldsmiths now use CAD machines, so it’s all computerised. However, I have always preferred to stick to a more traditional approach.”
Garrett uses a tree to describe the process of casting. “You pour the wax down the centre so then you are left with a kind of wax version of the mould. It then goes on a rubber tree with all of your castings on it. After that, it goes onto a tube where plaster cast is around your rubber and you heat it up so all the rubber falls out. Then you are left with the cavity where your gold pushes and flows down through the tree.”
“It all sounds a lot more complicated than it is,” he says. The goldsmith says that he has is still using the same tools as when he started out, such as his soldering iron, anvil and goldsmith’s hammer.
Over the years, Garrett has made a number of commissioned pieces for high-profile clients including the Office of the President of Ireland and the Department of Marine and Communications, who presented pieces to visiting EU and UN delegates.
Garrett says that one of his most memorable moments was being commissioned to hand-craft a pair of cufflinks for US President, Joe Biden. “I had the opportunity to make cufflinks for Joe Biden on two occasions,” he explains. “The first time was in June 2016, on his visit to Co Louth, the home of his ancestors and then again in April 2023.”
Family heirlooms
Like the timeless craft of goldsmithing, something extremely important to Garrett is to create pieces that will be passed through generations. “Often the children of mothers who have brought presents in the past come to me looking for engagement or wedding rings, or even a christening present,” he says. “It means a lot and is a privilege to be making these family heirlooms.”
Garret explains that there have been times where he has been emotional making certain sentimental pieces. “The inspiration behind my Chlann collection was a mother who raised four children on her own who asked for a piece to represent her protecting them,” he says. “People come to me asking to put little angels in the Chlann pieces if they have lost someone in the family.”
Garrett admits that although he has done quite a bit of high-profile work, that these are the creations that mean the most to him and stay close to his heart.
Garrett says his inspiration can come from many sources, however, he is mostly inspired by heritage, culture, mysticism and mythology. Traces of Irish symbolism can be found in his work, particularly through his shamrock pieces.“The shamrock being the iconic symbol of Ireland, is a small and delicate plant,” he explains. “The word comes from the Irish seamróg which translates to little clover. My shamrock pieces are an acknowledgement of the beauty and preservation of traditional arts and crafts for future generations. Similarly, St Patrick’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving traditional arts and crafts for future generations.”
Garrett Mallon, goldsmith photographed at his shop/ Studio in Carlingford Co Louth. \ Claire Nash
Cloicín Collection
Garrett’s first collection, Cloicín, still remains one of his most sought-after jewellery pieces.
“The collection is centred around the stony shore of Carlingford Lough where my studio is based,” he says. “The shorefront features pebbled beaches and from my window I can see the famous Cloc Mór Stone in Rostrevor at the entrance of the Mourne Mountains.”
Garrett says that while he’s retired different collections and then brought them back to life, this collection has remained as popular as ever. “A classic design does not go out of fashion, I have people who bought this range 15 years ago and still come back for matching earrings.”
The next move for Garrett Mallon Design House is to expand his online collection to include the work of other creators that are already on sale in his shop. “Year on year, the business is getting busier, especially as tourism in Ireland and particularly, Carlingford is beginning to grow,” he says. “Goldsmithing is a slow industry – yes, it takes time but the pieces are meant to last. We live in a very ‘we want it now’ world, where everything is expected to be instant.”
However, through Garrett’s dedication to his craft and commitment to cultural preservation, he is helping to write the next chapter of Ireland’s rich craft history.
Check out garettmallon.com
Read more
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Irish goldsmithing boasts a rich and fascinating history, dating back to the Bronze Age. The craft has evolved significantly over the centuries, reflecting changing tastes, techniques and cultural influences. The intricate metalwork produced by Irish goldsmiths has been a source of pride for generations, with families passing down heirlooms as a way to preserve their cultural heritage.
One master craftsperson carrying that torch today is Garrett Mallon, who works in the medieval village of Carlingford, Co Louth from his flagship Garrett Mallon Design House, a hub of creativity for those interested in sourcing authentic Irish craft.
Flair for design
From a young age, it was clear Garrett had a flair for art and design, excelling in creative ventures and always sketching. “After leaving school at 15, I decided to do a youth training programme in jewellery design which would be similar to the FÁS programme in place now,” he says. “My journey only properly commenced after being awarded a coveted pre-apprenticeship scholarship in the Sir John Cass School of Arts.”
Garrett says that his father was the driving force and motivation behind him pursuing his career. “He knew from day one that I wasn’t going to go down the academic route and he had a lot of belief in my creative abilities,” he says. “He passed away just two weeks before I went to Sir John Cass School of Art so he was always in the back of my mind to keep going. “After some time, I got into a state of flow and really enjoyed working with gold and silver.”
Following his scholarship in London, Garrett returned to Dublin and began working in jewellery manufacturing.“When I started out, I sat at a bench beside a seasoned goldsmith who had 40 years of knowledge, and who passed it onto me.” As the years went on, Garrett became foreman of the workshop and then in turn passed on his own knowledge to other goldsmiths in the company.
Armed with invaluable experience, Garrett decided to take the leap and go out on his own.
“I relocated my family to Omeath, Co Louth in 2002, where I had my own home purpose-built workshop and I worked there for a number of years,” he says. Garrett then opened his shop, Garrett Mallon Design House, in 2014. Here, he has his own workshop and showcases the work of more than 100 other Irish craftspeople.
“When I initially moved into the shop, some of the locals seemed amazed, saying things like, ‘is that what you do, we thought you worked in a bank’,” he says, laughing. “The ethos of the shop is that everything is made on the island and year on year we like to get new artists in.”
Now in its tenth year, many of the featured designers are friends and colleagues of Garrett’s and he ensures visitors to the Design House hear the story behind the pieces and makers.
Garrett Mallon at his shop. \ Claire Nash
Traditional techniques
When it comes to making jewellery, Garrett describes himself as a traditionalist in his craft.
“When I start creating a new range, I make the initial pattern out of metal and then cast them,” he says. “A lot of younger goldsmiths now use CAD machines, so it’s all computerised. However, I have always preferred to stick to a more traditional approach.”
Garrett uses a tree to describe the process of casting. “You pour the wax down the centre so then you are left with a kind of wax version of the mould. It then goes on a rubber tree with all of your castings on it. After that, it goes onto a tube where plaster cast is around your rubber and you heat it up so all the rubber falls out. Then you are left with the cavity where your gold pushes and flows down through the tree.”
“It all sounds a lot more complicated than it is,” he says. The goldsmith says that he has is still using the same tools as when he started out, such as his soldering iron, anvil and goldsmith’s hammer.
Over the years, Garrett has made a number of commissioned pieces for high-profile clients including the Office of the President of Ireland and the Department of Marine and Communications, who presented pieces to visiting EU and UN delegates.
Garrett says that one of his most memorable moments was being commissioned to hand-craft a pair of cufflinks for US President, Joe Biden. “I had the opportunity to make cufflinks for Joe Biden on two occasions,” he explains. “The first time was in June 2016, on his visit to Co Louth, the home of his ancestors and then again in April 2023.”
Family heirlooms
Like the timeless craft of goldsmithing, something extremely important to Garrett is to create pieces that will be passed through generations. “Often the children of mothers who have brought presents in the past come to me looking for engagement or wedding rings, or even a christening present,” he says. “It means a lot and is a privilege to be making these family heirlooms.”
Garret explains that there have been times where he has been emotional making certain sentimental pieces. “The inspiration behind my Chlann collection was a mother who raised four children on her own who asked for a piece to represent her protecting them,” he says. “People come to me asking to put little angels in the Chlann pieces if they have lost someone in the family.”
Garrett admits that although he has done quite a bit of high-profile work, that these are the creations that mean the most to him and stay close to his heart.
Garrett says his inspiration can come from many sources, however, he is mostly inspired by heritage, culture, mysticism and mythology. Traces of Irish symbolism can be found in his work, particularly through his shamrock pieces.“The shamrock being the iconic symbol of Ireland, is a small and delicate plant,” he explains. “The word comes from the Irish seamróg which translates to little clover. My shamrock pieces are an acknowledgement of the beauty and preservation of traditional arts and crafts for future generations. Similarly, St Patrick’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving traditional arts and crafts for future generations.”
Garrett Mallon, goldsmith photographed at his shop/ Studio in Carlingford Co Louth. \ Claire Nash
Cloicín Collection
Garrett’s first collection, Cloicín, still remains one of his most sought-after jewellery pieces.
“The collection is centred around the stony shore of Carlingford Lough where my studio is based,” he says. “The shorefront features pebbled beaches and from my window I can see the famous Cloc Mór Stone in Rostrevor at the entrance of the Mourne Mountains.”
Garrett says that while he’s retired different collections and then brought them back to life, this collection has remained as popular as ever. “A classic design does not go out of fashion, I have people who bought this range 15 years ago and still come back for matching earrings.”
The next move for Garrett Mallon Design House is to expand his online collection to include the work of other creators that are already on sale in his shop. “Year on year, the business is getting busier, especially as tourism in Ireland and particularly, Carlingford is beginning to grow,” he says. “Goldsmithing is a slow industry – yes, it takes time but the pieces are meant to last. We live in a very ‘we want it now’ world, where everything is expected to be instant.”
However, through Garrett’s dedication to his craft and commitment to cultural preservation, he is helping to write the next chapter of Ireland’s rich craft history.
Check out garettmallon.com
Read more
Up to €70,000 to do up your old farmhouse
Meet the Maker: ceramicist Sandra Cole O'Brien
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