Goldsmith and jewellery designer Nigel O Reilly
Of course it was scary, he smiles now. I m putting jewellery together that should be sold on Bond Street, but I m in the West of Ireland, you know? Everybody thought I was daft to move back.
Nigel and Tracy both grew up in Mayo, he in Claremorris, she in Castlebar. As a child, a career in the world of fine jewellery was not remotely on the cards. The world of art hadn t even come into my mind; my mum s a teacher and my dad s a farmer. It s GAA and tractors, basically, he says.
School was difficult; Nigel has severe dyslexia. The thought of going to college. I just really didn t feel comfortable going back to an educational environment that didn t suit me in any way. Instead, he got an apprenticeship in Galway as a precision engineer.