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© TogetherWeCreate
© Steve Humphries
© Steve Humphries
© Eoin Shanley
© Eoin Shanley

Eoin Shanley

  • Copperfish
  • Lamp maker
  • Rathnew, Ireland
  • Master Artisan
Eoin Shanley Lamp maker
Contact
English
Hours:
Monday to Friday 09:30 - 17:00, Saturday 10:00 – 13:00
Phone:
+353 868534758
© Eoin Shanley

Shining a light on reuse

  • • Eoin's materials have a story
  • • Sustainable design is very important to him
  • • He learned through hands-on experiences

Having started out as musician and actor, Eoin worked part time on building sites to fund his creative career. Over this time, he met many tradespeople and learned key skills. When renovating his own home, a traditional thatched cottage, he worked with a master joiner. This kickstarted his love for woodwork and appreciation of conservation and sustainability. He started to create lighting from what was to hand. This was the beginning of his brand Copperfish which produces contemporary lighting using glass, hemp and copper, alongside beautiful ancient timbers. Sustainability is key to his process, with all timber being reclaimed. Each piece of timber in a Copperfish light has a story.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © TogetherWeCreate
  • © TogetherWeCreate
  • © TogetherWeCreate
  • © TogetherWeCreate
  • © TogetherWeCreate
Photo: © TogetherWeCreate
Ballast table lamp (short)

This small table lamp, part of Eoin Shanley’s Ballast Collection, features a pear-shaped bulb and is complemented by a twisted, braided cord. Felled in Western Australia in the 1800s, the Jarrah wood used in this collection made its way to Ireland as ballast on emptied prison ships. This “Swan River Mahogany” found its second life as a Steam Age railway sleeper in a far-flung corner of rural Ireland. These salvaged hardwood lamps were milled from the few remaining Jarrah sleepers Eoin Shanley managed to track down.

Length 15 cm
Width 7 cm
Height 50 cm

Photo: © TogetherWeCreate
Heron floor lamp

The lines and proportions of this soft-industrial styled floor lamp were inspired by the silhouettes of herons along local riverbanks. Standing at approximately 160 cm tall, the Heron lamp is perfect in hallways, home offices and perched over favourite chairs. The warm copper piping and industrial fittings are softened by the substantial Wicklow beech base. The striking patterns in the beech wood occur when two spores meet and attack the storm fallen tree.

Height 160 cm

Photo: © TogetherWeCreate
The Journeyman

In 2012 in County Kilkenny, a truly almighty oak tree succumbed to old age. Most of it was used to make barrels for the local whiskey distillery but luckily Eoin Shanley managed to salvage the magnificent pieces that didn't make the grade. The oak timber beam is approximately a metre long and has three vintage style caged LED bulbs suspended from it with cream-coloured round, natural hemp rope or chain. The timber beam hangs approximately 30 cm from the ceiling from two vintage style brass ceiling plates suspended also by cream-coloured round, natural hemp rope or chain.

Length 100 cm
Width 10 cm
Height 5 cm

Photo: © TogetherWeCreate
Dock floor lamp

The old Belfast Dock saw the launch of legendary ships and stories. Using salvaged wood from this historic old dock, Eoin Shanley creates a collection inspired by the beautiful green of oxidised copper and the bulb-protecting work lights of dockers. These handsome practical lamps work beautifully in contemporary homes. The floor lamp has an oxidised green copper pipe sitting atop a beautiful, handcrafted salvaged timber base from the historic old Belfast Dock and is finished off with a stunning retro bulb. This impressive lamp is complemented by a twisted, braided cord.

Length 20 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 170 cm

Photo: © TogetherWeCreate
Ballast floor lamp

The floor lamp, part of Eoin Shanley’s Ballast Collection, features a long cylindrical shaped bulb and is complemented by a twisted, braided cord. Felled in Western Australia in the 1800s, the Jarrah wood used in this collection made its way to Ireland as ballast on emptied prison ships. This “Swan River Mahogany” found its second life as a Steam Age railway sleeper in a far-flung corner of rural Ireland. These salvaged hardwood lamps were milled from the few remaining Jarrah sleepers Eoin Shanley managed to track down.

Length 22 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 135 cm

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