A Gaoth Dobhair craftsman is to have two of his custom copper artworks displayed at Anfield.
Neil Ferry, along with his daughter Aoife, will be travelling to Merseyside next week to present the works to Liverpool’s Club Curator & Historian Mark Platt.
A life-long Liverpool fan, Neil was able to get in contact with the club while making a visit to Anfield to watch his beloved team against Everton in the Merseyside Derby.
“Myself and my family went over for the Liverpool-Everton game, which was also the last time Diogo Jota scored for Liverpool, myself and my daughter Aoife saw the game in the stadium.
The next day, (both of us) along with my wife and my daughter, Shauna decided to do the stadium tour.”
“While we were on the tour, I explained to the guide that I was a copper artist and that I’d love to do a piece for Anfield.”
The custom copper Liverpool club crest that is to be displayed at Anfield. Credit: Neil Ferry/Donegal Copper Craft
“He put me onto Mark Platt (the club historian)… I showed him the piece, and he told me: “for something like that, I’d love to put it in the boardroom.”
Now a few months on, not only will Neil have his custom copper Liverpool badge piece displayed within the hallowed halls of Anfield – but another special piece crafted in the wake of the tragic loss of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.
In the wake of the tragedy, he created a commemorative plaque in honour of the two brothers – and upon seeing the plaque, the club offered Neil a formal invitation to come to Anfield and present both works.
“Everyone was devastated when it happened, and I thought that it would be a nice tribute.”
“(It features) the top of the Shankly gates, where it has the ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ motto, and then the two eternal flames representing the Hillsborough tragedy on either side of both of their names.”
“I sent a picture of it over to Mark Platt and he was amazed by the tribute.”
The tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva that will be displayed at Anfield. Credit – Neil Ferry/Donegal Copper Craft
The opportunity marks a huge step in Neil’s career transition to becoming a full-time copper artist.
While he grew up in Dublin, his family is from the Gaoth Dobhair area – and in 2015, Neil made the move from the capital back to the Donegal Gaeltacht.
Copper crafting was always a pastime he enjoyed, but it became more than that when health issues forced a change of career away from his work in construction.
“This copper work was always just a hobby, but I had issues with my back and I ended up in hospital for a few weeks with two disks gone in my back.”
“I was (doing) more and more with copper because I wasn’t in work, and when I went back to work I only lasted three weeks before I was back again in hospital with my back.”
“The doctor told me that I’d have to get a job in an office or do something different from construction, (which was) all I knew.”
“What I’m doing now is (working towards) making my living from the copper.”
Indeed Neil is well on the way to doing so, as all his pieces are individual commissions, and crafted to the wants and needs of the customer who orders them from his business Donegal Copper Craft.
With each creation of his taking as much as 10-12 hours of hand-made crafting, Neil also has recognised the importance of keeping copper work and copper crafting alive – as through his business he has also offers workshops nationwide and wellbeing days for businesses.
His business reaches customers from as far afield as America, and commissions flying in, the Gaoth Dobhair man is certainly kept busy as he is now turning his passion into his full-time profession.
“I just wish that I was that bit younger. I found this craft now that I love and that I love doing – I’m 52 years of age now and I’d love it if I was 22 and could do it all over again.”
“It’s lovely to have, it’s brilliant to have, and (now) I have commissions from all over the world. I work with people, give them ideas, and we always come up with something special.”
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