Lots of people are very good at all sorts of things, but only a handful excel at everything. Limerick native Niamh Morrison very definitely falls into the latter category.
An accomplished horsewoman, Niamh has also reached great heights as a world class competitor in Surf Life Saving events, and as a jewellery maker with clients all over the globe.
Niamh and her husband Declan live in Inchydoney, close to the beautiful west Cork town of Clonakilty. They have three children – daughters Aoife and Ciara, and son Brian.
Aoife lives in Inchydoney with her two daughters Willow and Ivy, whilst international event rider Brian is based in Belgium and Ciara is in Australia.
Working life
Niamh is always laughing, and always looking ahead. She began her working life in an architects office, moving on to assist Declan in his dental practice.
After completing the Equine Science degree course at the University of Limerick, Niamh went on to the British Horse Society (BHS) exams, and then the Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) exams.
She began teaching, and has shaped and encouraged many riders over a twenty year period. The Pony Club was Niamh’s main focus: “I mostly taught the older riders,” explains Niamh.
“I had an exam group once a year, helping Pony Club members to achieve their B+ and H tests. I also oversaw the Riding and Road Safety exam candidates.”
Niamh was a stalwart member of the Irish eventing scene for many years, initially with a coloured horse called Jacob.
She then moved on to a seven-eighths draught gelding called Diamond; together they enjoyed ten years of competing across many disciplines. Niamh still rides every day.
“I retired from teaching and competing when I reached my 60th birthday, but I still love to ride. I do dressage at home, and I ride on the beach.
"There is a group of us on the yard where I keep my horse, and we all ride out together. The emphasis is on having fun. It’s just great!”
Gold medals
Niamh has always been drawn to the sea and she enjoys swimming every day: “I couldn’t live anywhere but!” she admits. Niamh also competes in Surf Life Saving events.
In September 2022, Niamh contested the Surf Life Saving World Championships in Italy, bringing home two gold medals and two bronze medals. She is currently in training for the Surf Life Saving European Championships in September 2023, which are to be held in Belgium. “It is quite intense as the competition runs over six days, but I love it and it takes me all over the world.”
Fifteen years ago, Niamh decided to add yet another string to her bow when she began making jewellery. “I have always had good hands, and I was forever tinkering about with some sort of art or craft. I was interested in jewellery making, so I watched some YouTube tutorials. I just started to work away at it, and now here we are!”
This experiment went on to become Hen Jewellery, Niamh’s now very successful small business. “I am inspired totally by the sea. I don’t make custom pieces, it’s just whatever is in my head at the time! The sea awakens creativity. I love the colours and textures found in nature.” Niamh works mostly with sea glass, turquoise, silver, copper and gold. Her best sellers are rings, spinner rings and sea pendants.
“I am a member of the Cork Craft and Design organisation. I attend a weekly craft market in Kinsale and I am lucky to have a lot of American customers. The USA and Ireland are my biggest markets, but I also sell into Europe and Australia too. I absolutely love the markets - love meeting people, and having the craic with them all.”
Craft Fairs
Hen Jewellery regularly features very funny and entertaining videos on Instagram, where she also has an online shop. Niamh can be seen in her distinctive glasses (one round lens and one square lens) making jewellery, laughing, and making others laugh, too. “During the pandemic, there were no craft fairs so I had to learn how to do social media!” She laughs. “Everyone is online these days, and Instagram is a great shop window for what I do.
“The videos are just a bit of fun, but they raise a giggle and that’s great. It is important to keep small businesses in business, to support your own-be that farm produce, arts or crafts. Social media is a big part of that.”
I ask Niamh what she is looking forward to in 2023. “Staying alive!’ She replies, roaring with laughter. “I am hoping to get to some European show jumping shows to support Brian. I am looking forward to the Surf Life Saving World Championships in September, and I’m going to Burghley Horse Trials. Other than that, I will be pottering around and having fun. My motto is that you should just really enjoy life.”
