Birr steel craftsman reaches national awards final

A Birr steel craftsman's remarkable skill has received the national recognition that it deserves after his handcrafted stainless steel greyhound sculpture was selected as a finalist in the Irish Steel Awards 2026.

Johnathan Carroll of CJ Metal Crafts was shortlisted in two categories at this year’s awards with his beautiful sculpture.

Johnathan told the Tribune that he attended a steel workshop project during the Covid lockdown and loved the pastime so much that he persisted with it, turning it into a regular hobby, creating stainless steel sculptures alongside his metal fabrication work.

“My finalist piece,” said Johnathan, “was a modern low-poly greyhound, constructed from a series of flat, faceted stainless steel panels. Each piece was individually designed and laser cut before being folded, welded and finished by hand.”

He said one of the biggest challenges when crafting the sculpture was getting each of the panels to line up precisely while maintaining the greyhound’s proportions and smooth overall form.

The finished sculpture combines precision metal fabrication with creative design, demonstrating how stainless steel can be used not only for engineering and fabrication, but also to create unique works of art.

Since starting his craft in 2020 Johnathan has made numerous handcrafted stainless steel sculptures. He creates bespoke pieces for customers. “Every piece I craft is original and lovingly built to last the test of time. From new designs to reproductions or repairs, everything I do is created with precision, patience and quality materials.” You can find out more at www.cjmetalcrafts.com.