Laois master craftsmen on the shortlist for golden award

Mountmellick woodworker Alan Meredith is just a handful of artists around Ireland to make it to the shortlist for a prestigious national award.

He made it to a list of just seven selected for the for the Golden Fleece Award 2023. A recipient of a BA and MA in Architecture from UCD, he has been working with wood at an early age. His output to date straddles the boundaries of contemporary craft, architecture and sculpture.

The nomination citation says Alan makes in a variety of scales in response to the constraints of his materials and the disciplines of woodturning and steam-bending. It says he is interested in finding the appropriate form for each object while attempting to reveal the inherent properties of the woods he uses.

"His most recent work focuses on the use of native Irish green oak to create turned vessels. He feels this is the purest expression of his values as a maker and its potential as a material. His sculptural works are infused with its exceptional longevity, strength and character," it said.

Alan applied for a Golden Fleece Award to invest in practical upgrades to his studio making facilities and equipment which would allow him to significantly scale-up his work.

The Golden Fleece Award consists of one or more major Awards, to which smaller Special Awards may be added.

The prize fund fluctuates from year to year but generally amounts to at least €20,000 overall. How the fund is divided among recipients and distributed in any given year is at the Trustees' discretion.

In recent years, Awards of €12,000, €10,000, €5,000, €4,000 and €3,000 have been made. 

It was established by Lillias Mitchell to provide resources for practicing contemporary visual artists and makers to innovate and develop their artistic vision, the Award is the largest of its kind in Ireland, and this year is worth €35,000 in total. 

Alan has already been recognised and assisted in advancing his career through enterprise awards in Laois.