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Ciarán Sweeney was born in Ireland in 1971, he trained at The National
College of Art and Design, Dublin where he majored in printed textiles.
Within a year of graduation in 1994, the former waiter, staged his first
one man show 'The Drowning of Ophelia 'in a Dublin gallery. The show received
rave reviews, a packed audience and his story began to unfold.
At the age of 26 British Vogue described Sweeney as a leading light of
Irish fashion, he works in a highly labour intensive almost ancient manner.
All Ciaran's pieces start with a drawing he then dyes, prints, paints
and embellishes his garments and accessories with his drawings.
Sweeney works from his studio in The Liberties area of Dublin city , he
works on a 7 metre table on some of the most precious fabrics and fibres
from around the world. He is most known for his use of 19th century silk
screen textile print methods.
Over the last 12 years Sweeney has gone on to show his work in The United
Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, The USA, The United Arab Emirates and 2006
marked Sweeney's first show in Moscow, Russia.
In February of 2006, Sweeney exhibited in Madrid, representing Ireland
in a unique show of international designers entitled 'Men in skirts' which
ran in Retiro Park, Madrid and included John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier,and
Vivienne Westwood.
In the same month www.ciaransweeney.com was awarded a medal at The American
Design Awards, California, USA.
The list of owners of Ciarán Sweeney creations includes The President
of Ireland, Madonna, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, The Corrs, Moya Brennan,
Altan, Dinah Carrol, Brenda Belthyn. His corporate clients include Guinness,
Smirnoff, PGA, Irish Distillers, Nokia, The Ulster Museum, Vodafone.
He has designed ranges in fashion and home for international outlets including
Harrods, Liberty and Brown Thomas. Ciaran Sweeney also acts as Producer
of the National College of Art and Design Graduate Show annually since
2000.
Ciaran is currently working on a interior collection for Gallery 13, Los
Angeles and continues to show his work both in fashion and interiors in
Ireland and abroad. Sweeney is a regular contributor on design and lifestyle
issues in print and tv media and also lectures in the department of visual
culture in The National College of Art Dublin.
BIOGRAPHY :::
2007
o Ciaran Sweeney Store at Chq, Dublin Docklands from October 2007
o The Designers Guild Awards, Los Angeles, Costume designer to Consolatta
Boyle
o The IFTAS , Ireland , Costume Designer to Consolotta Boyle , Winner
of Costume Design for The Queen
o Brenda Blethyn, The Late Late Show, RTE, Costume Designer
o George Michael presented with a Ciarán Sweeney Robe by Aiken,
The Point Theatre, Dublin
o Brenda Blethyn, The Sundance Film Festival, USA, Costume Designer
o Clannad Lifetime Achievement Award, The Meteor Awards, Point Depot,
Dublin. Costume Designer to Moya Brennan
o Clannad in concert, The Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Costume Designer to
Moya Brennan
o Ciaran Sweeney Masterclass, Design Issues, NTV, Moscow, Russia, Syndicated
o The Irish Tatler Designer Showcase, The Irish Embassy, London
2006
o Ciarán Sweeney, One Man Show, Shusev State Museum of Architecture,
Moscow, Russia, April 27, 2006
o Produced and Directed NCAD, Graduate Fashion Show (2000-2006), Trinity
College Dublin
o Commissioned by Smirnoff to create one off piece to mark launch of CS
brand in Moscow, Russia
o Irish Tatler Designer Showcase, The Conrad Hotel , Dublin, St Patrick's
Day 2006
o Men in Skirts, Curated by Roger Salas, Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain,
February 2006.
o Other featured designers include John Galliano, Giorgio Armani, Vivienne
Westwood.
Artist in Residence, Hortolova Orphonage, Briansk, Russia, January 2006
2005
o Produced and directed the NCAD Graduate Fashion Show, RDS, Dublin (2000-2005)
o Harrods, London launch Ciarán Sweeney Homeline
o Created one-off piece for Kylie Minogue presented by Aiken, The Point
Theatre Dublin
o Aer Lingus stock Ciarán Sweeney scarf in Indulge, available
on all trans-atlantic premier class flights.
o Irish Tatler Designer Showcase, Hosted by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of
London, City Hall , London
o Costume Designer , Moya Brennan's appearance at The Grammy Awards,
Los Angeles, USA
o Irish Tatler, Designer Showcase, Dublin Castle
2004
o Interior Design/ Soft Furnishing, La Corniche, St-Jean de Cap-Ferrat,
France
o Madonna presented with Ciarán Sweeney products at her Slane
concert by MCD
o Liberty, London, stock Ciarán Sweeney Accessories
o Created one of piece for the Gary Kelly Cancer Support, Drogheda, Ireland
o Interior Design/ Soft Furnishing, Montpelier Walk, Knightsbridge, UK
o Interior Design/ Bespoke Bedding, Raglan Road, Dublin, Ireland
o Showcase Ireland , RDS, Dublin
2003
o Costume Designer for Two Horizons by Moya Brennan, international release
2003
o Costume Designer /Hospitality, The PGA European Golf Championship,
The K Club, Ireland 2000-2003
o Costume & Set Designer, Moya Brennan, The Royal Opera House, London
2002
o Produced and directed the Design Centre show, State Apartments, Dublin
Castle
o Commissioned by the University of Notre Dame, USA, to create hand-painted
pieces for its board members on their visit to Ireland, and also, a piece
for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, which was presented to her
at Áras an Uachtaráin
o Created piece for Vodafone modeled by Jodie Kidd for the launch of
the brand in Ireland
o Artist in Residence, Cill Riallaig Artist's Retreat, Ballinskelligs,
Co. Kerry
2001
o Costume designer for Moya Brennan's appearance at The Grammy Awards,
Los Angeles
o Costume designer for Rebecca Storm's Irish tour
o 3310 phone design for NOKIA as part of their official sponsorship of
London Fashion Week
o Piece worn by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, for the final
visit of Bill Clinton as President of the United States of America to
Áras an Uachtaráin
o Wrote, produced, directed and conceived "DIVINE" starring
Jimmy Summerville & Shirley Temple Bar, Olympia Theatre, Dublin
o Costume designer for Metisse's video, CD, DVD "Boom Boom Ba"
the title track for Madonna's feature film "The Next Best Thing"
2000
o Created piece for Esat Digifone to launch the Digifone Champion
Stakes
o Costume designer for the TV debut of the Celtic Divas
o Costume designer for Brenda Blethyn in the international feature film
"Saving Grace"
o Costume designer for Brenda Blethyn's appearance at the World Premiere
of "Night Train"
oCommissioned by Guinness Ireland to create one-off piece to launch the
new £10,000,000 Draught Guinness Bottle. Now housed in the Guinness
Archive
1999
o Piece acquired by the Ulster Museum to represent Irish Fashion at the
turn of the Millenium
1996
o Costume designer for The Corrs World Tour
o Costume designer for Altan's World Tour
EXHIBITIONS :::
SOLO SHOWS:
o Ciaran Sweeney, The State Museum of Architecture, Moscow., Russia 2006
o On Raglan Road, Ciaran Sweeney, 12 Raglan Road, Dublin 2004
o Ciaran Sweeney, The State Apartments, Dublin Castle 2004
o Ciaran Sweeney, The State Apartments, Dublin Castle 2003
o Ciarán Sweeney, 120 Saint Stephen's Green 2002
o Sweeney's Crossing, The Origin Gallery, Dublin 2001
o Ciarán Sweeney, State Apartments, Dublin Castle. 2000
o Ciarán Sweeney, State Apartments, Dublin Castle. 1999
o The Lady of the Lios, Ciarán Sweeny, La Stampa, Dublin 1996
o The Drowning of Ophelia, Ciarán Sweeney, Wyvern Gallery, Dublin
1994
GROUP SHOWS :::
o Irish Talter Designer Showcase Hosted by Ken Livingstone, City Hall,
London, September 29, 2005
o The Irish Tatler Designer Showcase, The State Apartments, Dublin Castle,
2005
o Showcase 2004, RDS, Dublin 2004
The National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin 2003
o Paintings by Cill Riallaig Artists, Origin Gallery, Dublin 2002
o The Way We Wore, The National Museum Of Ireland, Decorative Arts and
History, Collins Barracks 2002
o Paintings by Cill Riallaig Artists, Origin Gallery, Dublin 2001
o EXPO Ireland, Olympia, London 2000
Design Centre, Dublin 1998-2001
o Ciarán Sweeney & Elaine Curtis, VICAR Street, Dublin 1999
o European Young Designer's Show, London Fashion Week, Natural History
Museum London 1998
CLIENTS AND ACQUISITIONS ::: (I) CORPORATE:
Ulster Museum, Belfast
National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks
University of Notre Dame, USA
Guinness
PGA
Universal International, London
Vodafone
Esat
Nokia
Renault
Liberty
Logica
Mercury Engineering
Molloy Sherry Transport
The Trocadero
(ii) PRIVATE:
Mary McAleese (President of Ireland)
Elton John
Carmel Naughton
Brenda Blethyn
Moya Brennan
Moya Doherty
Mellisa Gilbert (USA)
Pauline Bewick
Noelle Cambell Sharpe
Lisa Stansfield
Madonna
The President, Institute of Architects in Ireland
Clannad
The Corrs
Altan
EDUCATION POSTS :::
o Producer/ Director, The Degree Show, Department of Fashion and Textiles,
Faculty of Design, National College of Art and Design 1999-2005
o Teacher of Art, Craft and Design, Colaiste Eanna, Rathfarnham 1993-1999
o Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Education, NCAD 1995
EDUCATION :::
o (a)Schools Summerhill College, Sligo 1986-1988
o (b)College/University-The National College of Art & Design, Dublin
1989-1993
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS :::
o National Craft Awards, Finalist 2004
o Overall Winner, Best New Product, Showcase 2004
o Bacardi Style Awards: Nominee, Best Designer 2002
o Late Late Show: Overall Winner, Bridal Designer of the Year 1997
o Kilkenny Cream of Ireland Award: Overall winner, Fashion 1997
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