Dear fellow Belleek Collectors It is with immense sadness that the Group has to inform you of the death on Wednesday 22nd May of the Potterys owner George Moore. George passed away at his home in Great Falls, Virginia, on Wednesday night.

The Irish Times broke this sorrowful news on Friday 24th May: Irish Times.com

We're sure you will join with us in offering our sincerest condolences to Angela and the family.  Our thoughts and prayers will be with them at this most difficult time.

Pat Russell, Paul Ewings, Bev Marvell
(Officers of the UK Belleek Collectors’ Group)

The United Kingdom Group. For those who do not know us, we are a group based in the United Kingdom for
collectors of Irish Belleek porcelain. The pottery was founded in 1857 and still produces wares today.
Most prized and collected are early 'Black Mark' First Period pieces. Full and Associate membership is available.
If you wish to join, please click on our 'Join Us' link, where payment can be accepted via paypal or cheque
through the post. Please use our 'contact us' page for more details.

Belleek on BBC Antiques Road Show NEW..a recent programme from Antiques Roadshow was recorded at Castle Coole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The link here will take you to the BBC website. Unfortunately this episode is not available to view at present but may become available in the future. The first item featured was a Belleek Jack at Sea trinket box which is painted and from the third black period. The piece was valued at £1000. CLICK HERE to go to the BBC Antiques Roadshow home page.

Belleek Videos..NEW page recently launched. Link to page added to main menu left. We have discovered
some interesting Belleek related short films on You Tube .Now available... link to Jason Fowler's six videos of
his collection and an interesting link to a UTV programme called 'Lesser Spotted Ulster' which visits Belleek plus
an interesting look at a museum in Geelong, Australia with what is billed as the largest collection of Belleek
in the southern Hemisphere..unless of course, you know differently!

Belleek Videos..'Hands' Belleek Pottery commissioned a special one hour video film in 1987. Although
copies occasionally appear for sale on E Bay or Amazon, they are not found easily. Fortunately, there is a
copy held 'on line' and is an excellent snapshot of how Belleek was produced back in the 80's. It is great
to see so many familiar faces including Jim Flanagan, Albert, Fergus Cleary, John Doogan, Liam McCauley,
Vincent McCauley and Hugh O'Reilly to name a few. The video was shot before George Moore purchased
the pottery and invested in rebuilding the works. The pottery was still virtually untouched and remained
that way through the 1980's. The film is well worth watching and lasts for an hour.
Please bear with the adverts that do pop up during your viewing. Without the adverts, historic films
like this would not be available on the web

Click here for 1980's Belleek Video called 'Hands'

Belleek Web Sites.. See lower left for list of related Belleek sites...If we've left you out, please let us know!

Our Last UK Group Meeting...Was our Spring Gathering in London. More than twenty members met over the weekend of 23rd and 24th March. Several enduring difficult journies to London battling lots of snow which fell overnight. (Hard to believe that our 2012 spring meeting was the complete opposite as we basked under unbroken skies and warm sun filled days.) Saturday dawned with a walking tour of some of the buildings linked to Armstrong in the city. Our main event was a private viewing of the Victoria and Albert Museum's Belleek collection both on display and in store plus a look at their other ceramic collections.

Later we met for Dinner at Stefs, a family run restaurant just off the busy thoroughfare of Oxford Street. Sunday morning started with a visit to the fabulous British Museum. Later we all met for a well deserved Sunday lunch at the Grade Two listed 'Lamb' near Russell Square and our formal meeting during the afternoon. It was good to see Karen who joined us from Texas for the weekend. More news from the weekend on our 'Meetings' page
which will be updated shortly.

Next UK Group Meeting...will be our July AGM to be held at the Weston Hall Hotel which has been a popular AGM
venue for several years now.

Belleek Conventions from 1993...New Content added to both 1997 and 2011 Convention reports..
To view images and news from each and every International convention please click on ' Convention Home Page'
in main menu left...Above from the 2011 Convention, our favourite auctioneer Dean Bagnall entertains while
raising funds for the next convention.

Last International Belleek Convention Meeting...was held in the States when a large contingent of UK Group
members from the UK and around the world met at the 2011 Belleek International Collectors Convention held
Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th September 2011 in Chicago, USA at the Doubletree Hotel. The Windy City Chapter
put together an exciting schedule of events which everyone enjoyed. Unfortunately, not all UK Collectors were
able to make the trip to Chicago but members from the UK Group actively participated when there and took plenty
of pictures for our next Newsletter and our new Convention 2011 page. Our thanks to everyone at the Windy City
Chapter and the Belleek Pottery and anyone else involved in the event for yet another wonderful convention.
Reports from all ten previous conventions can be found on our Conventions Home Page...Image Above...UK
collectors and friends at the convention.

Next Belleek Convention... The Eleventh International Convention is now only a little over 7 months away
and will take place in Las Vegas at the Flamingo 10 to 13th October 2013 Del Domke has released more details
including room rates for pre and post convention delegates attending.
Please visit Del's web pages link available here

Above.. Aerial view of Vegas. Home of the next Belleek Convention.

Newsletter...April 2013 issue ...just posted to everyone, includes Articles on Hand and Basket piece,
Fred Mills, Manager at Belleek? WB Yeats and Belleek in the 'Arnold' period, Charles Dickens and
the Karen Kincheloe Guide to Las Vegas in readiness for the October Convention. To obtain our Latest Newsletters when they are issued, please enquire about UK membership or Overseas Associate membership.

Belleek Pottery Press Releases and News...available this month...an archive of news from the pottery

Belleek International Centrepiece... at a special launch party at the pottery, John Maguire announced the
re-introduction of The International Centrepiece which will be available to special order. Above is a copy
of the Belleek News Release issued on August 30th 2012. A maximum production run of five is planned which
makes it a highly desired item. What is interesting is Fergus confirming that the majority of the moulds had been
found with working moulds being made from the originals from the mould room . Fergus added that he had
been unable to locate the pedestal section where the dogs are mounted. That section has been recreated
in the design studio ready for production. The limited run will be crafted by Brendan McCauley with John Doogan
adding the profusion of flowered detail. Price is £75000, enquiries need to be directed to the Pottery Visitors Centre. The last time this piece was crafted was in 1967.Fermanagh TV have made a special short programme at the pottery featuring an interview with Patricia McCauley, Visitors Centre Manager and featuring the International Centre piece under construction... Click Here to View

Above..here are left, John Doogan and Brendan McCauley right. Brendan can be seen crafting the first of five
2012 examples. John is busy examining the Centrepiece which is usually displayed in the pottery entrance foyer
to recreate the flowering decoration. Angela Moore, President of the International Belleek Collectors Society is
keen to locate the 1967 example and is seeking information on the whereabouts of the Centrepiece produced
for Canadian Jewellers, Breslauer & Warren of Winnipeg. It was was created for the citizens of Manitoba, in
commeration of Canada's centennial anniversary, 1867-1967. Are any Canadian Collectors able to help?

Our Rare Belleek page has now been updated for May. Unseen Shell Dish, Celtic inspired Specimen Vase Specimen Vase Armorial Stonehaven crests to Erne Cup and Saucer, Classic Greek Candlestick, Rare Armorial Crested Pot,
More items are shown below that have been recently discovered

Rare Belleek....Interesting high sheen pearl lustre to unseen Shell Dish First Black Mark Thanks to Jannie Van Heerden for sharing his good find with us

Ulster Plate rare painted decoration. First Black Mark

Celtic Decoration to Specimen Vase. E Bay Seller Whos No1i

Rare Belleek Archive ... can be accessed left from menu options. These have been sub-divided into several areas and can be accessed using key words, Crested, Painted, Tea Ware, Earthenware and Decorated. We will continue to add images firstly to our 'RARE Belleek Page' and then later to our individually themed pages.

Research Pages.... Please click on menu above left to view our updated research papers which are now available. Above....view of the pottery on a winter's afternoon and the second image, view of sluicegates through the original Belleek Bridge

From our Eugene Sheerin Gallery part of a hand painted Pierced Dessert plate set with a view of the Cliff Eel Fishery on the Erne. Second Period Mark to rear of plate.

Identifying and Valuing Belleek Pieces... We are happy to help members and collectors identify pieces of Belleek but are unable to assist with valuations

New Mix and Match Service...launched at our Spring meeting, Elaine Ewings, our new co-ordinator says the service is going well, but unfortunately, no 'marriages' so far just a few near misses. The aims of 'Mix and Match' is to unite collectors who may want to buy or swap tea ware pieces to match up and complete cup and saucer sets.Use our 'Contact Us' link for more information..Above exceedingly rare Finner Cup seeks saucer for lasting relationship!!

AND FINALLY.....OUR PIECE OF THE MONTH..'Doctor Sheldon' Vase Second Black Mark with Shamrock detailing Our thanks to E Bay Seller Whosno1