Laois pride as violin bowmaker wins double gold in 'world cup' of craft awards
A Laois man has won 'the world cup' in musical instrument making.
Camross native Niall O'Sheil Flemming has won two Gold medals at the prestigious Violin Society of America 24th International competition in Anaheim Belgium.
Niall, 34, started playing the violin aged 5 with Camross Comhaltas, and is now a reknowned bow maker living in Belgium.
The son of Dian and D’arne Flemming and brother to Sinead, his love for music and instruments started at a young age when he attended Camross NS and Roscrea Community School.
He is only the third Irish bow maker to have won gold medals since the competition began 48 years ago.
Niall told the Leinster Express / Laois Live how his passion began.
"I started playing the violin at the age of 5 and joined Camross Comhaltas where I was an active member until I moved to the UK to university, at the time I was also playing in sessions in what is now Hogan’s Pub in Coolrain from as soon as I was old enough to join, the two being my musical hearth, so music was a huge part of my life.
"I also had a love of woodworking that had started at a young age and whenever I could I was trying to make things. When I was 16 I went on a summer course in cambridge for a week where I started making my first violin, and I loved it.
"From there I found a College course in Newark in the UK where I started learning violin making full time once I finished secondary school. During my final year in College I managed to get a part time job in a violin shop in London and they needed me to do some basic work on bows as well, so they sent me to someone to learn the basics on bow maintenance.
"Once I graduated, I then served an apprenticeship with Pierre Guillaume, a well know expert of old French bows, for three years in Brussels.
"It was while working in Brussels I started learning about another Irish bow maker, Noel Burke, a world renowned Bow maker who was working in Carlow. So once I finished my apprenticeship I contacted Noel and he agreed to take me on, and I stayed with him for close to two years before setting up my own workshop in Kilkenny until 2020 when I moved back to Brussels.
Niall is deeply honoured to win.
"This is one of the highest accolades that is possible to achieve in my field, a great honour that will be with me forever, there where competitors from all over the world, France, Korea, Germany, America, Belgium and Canada.
"Of course this doesn’t mean the work will stop here, one of the most beautiful things about our work is that you are always striving to do better and to master this profession, something that would take multiple lifetimes," he said.
He is delighted at the local pride in his success in Laois.
"To share this win with my community is a great privilege, as those who know me have seen the struggle and supported me all the way, encouraging me to follow this quite unique path, spurred on by the shared passion for music.
"I would also like to thank my parents who all those years ago encouraged me to follow my interests and helped me to get where I am today," he said.
His achievement was praised at the November meeting of Laois County Council, with a letter of congratulations to be sent to him.
Cllr James Kelly proposed the letter.
"I have good news, Niall Flemming from Drimmo in Camross had entered the world champions in violin bow making, and won two gold medals. It's like the world cup. He played with Camross Comhaltas. He lives in Brussels now," he said.