Crystal bowl puts master engraver Sean on top of world

Four years ago he was on the dole but yesterday his work was seen around the world, presented by the Taoiseach to President Obama as part of the St Patrick’s festivities.

Master crystal engraver Sean Egan lost his job when the former Waterford Crystal factory closed in 2009 but, having since set up a studio to continue his work, he had the honour of fashioning the glass bowl filled with shamrock which was handed over by Enda Kenny in the White House.

Entitled “The Gathering Bowl”, the piece was a labour of love for the Waterford man who has been a master engraver for almost four decades and established Sean Egan Art Glass, with the support of the enterprise board in Waterford, after he was made redundant from Waterford Crystal.