Instruments in RDS exhibition

Thanks to Carol Hawkins for a sight of the catalogue for the Royal Dublin Society National Crafts Competition Winners Exhibition 2007. The RDS runs Ireland's oldest craft competition, which is open to all craft workers based in Ireland and to Irish craft workers living abroad.

Class 9 of the competition is for musical instruments. First prize was won by Gary Leahy of Kilbride, Newport, Co. Mayo (+353 984 2569), for his violin bow, priced at €2,000. Second prize went to Brian Lofthouse of Crimlin, Ross West, Castlebar, Co. Mayo (+353 94 904 4920), for his F-hole mandolin, priced at €2,650. The maker writes: 'This is an archtop (and back) of my own design based on the American F-5 Bluegrass mandolin. Top, back, neck and fretboard purfled and bound with snake wood. It is French polished.'

The bow (detail, frog end) and mandolin are both illustrated in the exhibition catalogue. The mandolin resembles a short-neck A model, with no scrolls on headstock or body; there's a point each side of the body at the end of the 21-fret fingerboard, and the pickguard outline swells out to match the point on that side. The finish is clear, and the hardware is gold-plated.

After displays at Dublin (August), Belfast (September), Cahir (October), and Mullingar (November), the exhibition returns to the RDS (Ballsbridge, Dublin 4) for the National Crafts & Design Fair on 5-9 December. Contact data to enter next year's competition can be found here.