A young Irish precision engineer one day decided to impress a girl by making her a ring. This propelled act him to becoming one of Ireland’s pre-eminent jewellery designers and goldsmiths. John Kennedy talks to Nigel O’Reilly about fostering skilled craft and artisan industries in regional Ireland and his collaborations with renowned designers and the fashion industries in Europe and New York, including making jewellery for Irish actress Saoirse Ronan.

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