Born in Dublin in 1945, Aidan started a traditional 7 year apprenticeship to the silver trade in 1959 with W.H.Gill & Son, Church Furnishers, learning his craft making chalices, monstances and tabernacles for the Church - all the while attending the National College of Art at night. He then moved on to work with several other Dublin silversmithing firms, producing domestic silver ware, such as tea pots, coffee pots, salvers and sports trophies, all using the Irish heritage.
Aidan is currently working on holloware pieces featuring Gaelic games.
Aidan set up his own workshop in 1978. Some of his commissions include biographical dishes for TV personality Gay Byrne to celebrate 25 years of Ireland's most popular television show, and a 12" dish for the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Charles J. Haughey. Embossed on the plate was Mr. Haughey's sailing boat, "Celtic Mist". He has also made the Irish Times Literature Awards since their inception.
Aidan's jewellery work "keeps the wolf from the door", and he is inspired and humbled by the great works of art from Ireland's "Golden Age". He first visited the National Museum of Ireland as a child with his father, and he is still a regular visitor. He is also very interested in the Celtic revival, started in the 1840's by the metal workers of the time. "I feel I have a direct connection to this revival, and I am proud to be part of the continuing tradition."
Aidan's work is also available at Celt Arts, based in the U.S.A. www.celtarts.com
