04/12/2024
Róisín McCabe is an artist, designer and goldsmith, who first moved to Cork in 2017 and currently lives in Midleton. As a child, she always liked making things and had “a big massive box of beads at home”, which used to keep her occupied for hours on end.
Jewellery making however, “seemed something that was impossible”, until a series of serendipitous encounters while growing up in Clones, Co. Monaghan changed her outlook completely and helped guide her to where she is today.
“I found a copy of the Good Housekeeping book at my grandmother’s house when I was quite young. Up to that point, I never thought I’d be able to do anything more than work with beads, but that book suddenly made it seem possible.”
“Then my parents got married when I was eleven and the man who made their wedding rings was a really great goldsmith called Erwin Springbrunn. We went to visit his house in Roscommon and it all seemed so magical.”
“He had a workshop with all these tools and while we were there he resized my father’s ring and I watched him do that.”
Some of Springbrunn’s work is exhibited in Collins’ Barracks here in Cork and while this visit clearly left a lasting impression on the young McCabe, she also comes from a highly creative family who have always supported her artistic endeavours.
Her grandfather was the celebrated writer Eugene McCabe and her aunt, Ruth McCabe, is one of the most renowned actors in the country. While she is very proud of both their work, she was nonetheless, keen to follow her own creative path.
Full piece on T+D. Roisín will@be exhibiting Christmas Market this Friday and Saturday.