Top award for Tipperary woodturner

Martin Ryan exhibition for Templemore Library

Martin Ryan lives in Clonboo, Templetuohy.

He is a skilled artist in segmented woodturning. Segmented woodturning is the process of joining different coloured woods at various angles and sizes to form a variety of patterns and designs on the finished product. The amount of segments in any one piece can vary from 100 to several thousand, depending on the size and design.

From design to completion, some pieces may take several months. All pieces are once-off and unique. They are designed and handcrafted in his workshop in Clonboo.

His inspiration comes from Irish heritage; Greek, native American and Arabic cultures. Mostly, he works from the design in his ‘mind’s eye’.

Having completed a woodturning course some years ago, Martin Ryan developed, over time, his own designs, skills and techniques. He now specialises in segmented woodturning, for which he has won awards from the Irish Woodturners Guild and the Design and Craft Council Ireland (DCCI).

He is a registered member of the DCCI and the Irish and American Woodturners Guild. His work in this field has been exhibited in both Thurles and Templemore.

Martin Ryan received the National Sustainable Design Award for 2024 from the Design and Craft Council Ireland. The awards ceremony was in the RDS Dublin on September 3. He received the Future Makers Sustainable Design Award 2024 in acknowledgement of his excellence and creativity in the experimental use of skills.

His winning entry was a segmented vase incorporating Holycross Abbey in the design. 2,465 individual pieces were used in its design and makeup.

Martin is due to have an exhibition later this year in Templemore Library and another one in Cashel Library early next year.

To view Martin’s artwork, go to clonboowoodart.com.