Designer/Metalsmith/Sculptor
Kevin J. O'Dwyer
Presentation Gift for Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
University of Limerick
Silversmith Kevin O’Dwyer was commissioned by the University of Limerick to create a special presentation piece honoring Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin on his retirement. Their first meeting took place during the 1992 recording of Gaiseadh / Flowing with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, where Mícheál’s compositions, fusing traditional Irish music with contemporary expression, made a lasting impression on O’Dwyer.
The resulting contemporary bronze vessel combines a richly patinated surface, evoking an artefact unearthed from the earth, with a lyrical flowing handle inspired by the Neolithic spiral motifs of Ireland’s ancient stone carvings. Mirroring Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin’s blending of heritage and innovation, the work explores ritual, imagination, and timeless form, creating a piece that is both thought-provoking and responsive to the human spirit.
Gaiseadh / Flowing