Eugene Sheerin was from Trillick Dromore County Tyrone and came to live in Belleek in 1878 while in his early twenties. He was brought to the pottery by R W Armstrong. Previously, at the age of four, he contracted rheumatic fever which left him confined to a wheelchair.

Sheerin was an amazing painter, usually working from engravings for his works 'Scenes of Ireland' which were specially commissioned tea or dessert sets. He painted at least four full tea services depicting 'Scenes of Ireland' which we understand were only decorated to specific order.

The most notable of these services is a set created for Doctor Tiernan which is the very same set illustrated in our gallery. Many pieces have been painted by Sheerin and we aim to add to this gallery when examples are found. The 'Doctor Tiernan' service is perhaps the most complete set known by collectors and has been acquired by the National Museum of Ireland and is now housed at the Collins Barracks Museum, Dublin also featured in our second gallery are examples from a second known set exported to America as a special commision for 'Cardinal Farley'

Our sincere thanks to Olga Clarke for kindly allowing the UK Group to reproduce images of the 'Doctor Tiernan' set on our site

click on image

Sheerin was a very accomplished artist and as well as his 'Scenes of Ireland' pieces painted on fineparian china also decorated earthenware pieces such as this large plaque platter featuring one of the early Belleek Pottery managers, James Cleary. Our thanks to Fergus Cleary, Head of Belleek Design for use of this image.