Waterford International Festival of Time
Bryan Leech watchmaker, Sidereus Watches from Carlow. Picture: Patrick Browne
Waterford's International Festival of Time is returning later this month, from Friday, May 23 until Saturday, May 24.
The event celebrates the finest horologists and watch-makers and is a showcase for Ireland's best creators.
Coming to the festival for the first-time are Bryan Leech, the McGonigle brothers, who each have their own watchmaking brands, and Swiss-trained Irish horologist and enamelist Alison Moriarty, who now operates her workshop in the west of Ireland.
Bryan Leech came to watchmaking serendipitously when he attended a lecture in 2014, titled ‘Horology: a Child of Astrology’, by Grégory Gardinetti.
In 2015, the Year of Irish Design, he made three prototypes for a show celebrating Irish heritage and design. It was all supposed to end there, but another of the festival’s 2022 exhibitors, Giles, encouraged him to go into production, and Sidereus was born.
Ireland’s McGonigle brothers, who each have their own watchmaking brands, will also be in Waterford. John McGonigle is based in Athlone and is a member of the AHCI – the invite-only Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants. Trained at the WOSTEP School in Switzerland, he has worked for some of the Grand Maisons of Watchmaking and is considered one of the finest watchmakers in the world. John often restores some of the most important museum pieces around the globe. His brand is Oileáin Watches.
Stephen McGonigle is based in Switzerland, and creates immaculately finished timepieces, at McGonigle Watches, building a reputation as one of the finest independent watchmaking houses today. His brands are McGonigle Watches and Magon.
Swiss-trained Irish horologist and enamelist, Alison Moriarty is now living in Ireland, and operates her workshop in the west of the country. Alison studied engineering before training at the Irish-Swiss Institute of Horology and WOSTEP in Switzerland.
The festival will also welcome notable figures such as Albert Edelmann (Zeitwinkel), Vianney Halter, Ludovic Ballouard, Marco Borraccino (Singer), Patrik Sjögren, Rune Bakkendorf, Sylvain Pinaud, Rob Nudds (Arcanaut), Pim Koeslag (Christiaan van der Klaauw), and Martin Klocke (Sherpa).
For more information and to book tickets, visit waterfordtreasures.com.
