Mosaics in Roscommon

Roscommon has a unique Mosaic Heritage and tradition. Up to the 1930’s, mosaics were imported to Ireland until John Crean brought mosaic artists over from Italy to set up Irish Mosaics in Roscommon in 1954.
John and his brother worked in the mosaic trade from 1938, (John having served his apprentice in Glasgow from 1924). By 1951 they had completed several major mosaic contracts in art mosaic design and assembly in Ireland and exported beautiful mosaics all over the world.
A business which had been dominated by the Japanese, Italians and some English companies, John Crean had supplied and installed mosaic to England, Australia, the USA and Africa. Seeing the mosaic imports he realised he could manufacture here in Roscommon.
In this documentary we talk to some of the people who worked in this local mosaic industry. They share with us about their training, the different stages of manufacturing and Sergio Benedetti tells us about his training in the world famous school of mosaic ‘Mosaic School of Friuli’ in Spillinbergo, Italy.
Funded by the Heritage Council as part of Heritage Week 2024, Roscommon County Council Heritage and Arts Office commissioned this documentary about Roscommon’s unique Mosaic Industry in collaboration with Roscommon local Liam Stephens.
Filmed by Padraig Cunningham of PureDesigns. With thanks to Liam Stephens, Tom Kilroe, Sergio Benedetti, Patsy Flanagan and Benny Mulhern. Thanks also to the many people who contributed photos.
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