Roibeard mac Neill mhic Ghille Eoin

Photo
Roibeard working at metalsmithing
Information
Resides: Shire of Quintavia
Status: Active
Awards: Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Quarterly Sable and Gules, a Sea-Bull maintaining a Cutlass within a Dovetailed bordure Or
Award & Office Badges

Introduction

My main (and Registered) name is Roibeard (ROW-bareD or Raw-Bared) mac Neill mhic Gille Eoin (mick Gill-Owen). I live in the Shire of Quintavia along with my lady-Wife Marja Gundesindus de Leon and my two bairns, Brendan and Elanora. I am a metal artisan and teacher. My secondary persona is that of Roibeard's ancestor (on his Father's side) of Sigbrandr Varðrefjordi...he was a silversmith and merchant.

In modern times I am Louis Garcia (Preferred pronouns He/Him/His), a multi-disciplinary artist and arts instructor living in Worcester, MA with my Wife Dee (sca Marja Gundesindus), our two children Brendan and Emerson, and five incredible cats. I run Strongford Arts, where I display and sell renditions of Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking Jewelry. I have begun to make reproductions of archaeological finds from Caherconnell Stone Fort in Carran, Co. Clare, Ireland for their displays.

Persona

Roibeard was born on April 26, 1551, on the Hebridean island of Barra to Gillean mac Neill, a sea captain and trader cousin to Chief Ruari mac Neill, and Brigit ingen Raghallaigh, an Irish weaver from Gaillimh, Connacht. Roibeard grew up around the Sea, sailing with his father and crew (much to his Mother's chagrin) in the many voyages around the Northern Seas. Following the death of his father during an attack from an English vessel south of Dunbarton, Roibeard left Barra and traveled to Clew Bay, where he joined the employ of long time Family friend and compatriot, Grainne in Mhaille. With sailing in his blood he was back out to sea following in the footsteps of his father, becoming an accomplished Navigator. In time he left Grainne's service and Disembarked in Spain, were he learned the Arts, primarily painting and silver smithing. He lived in Murcia for nearly a decade before the Sea called again. He began to travel the Mediterranean and beyond with a trading crew and built a lucrative business with his artistic skill. His artistry took him from Venice to Copenhagen and Every major port in Europe. His work traveled beyond his voyages to the Halls of Topkapi and to the new Colonies across the Atlantic. He now lives on the shores of Clare, Munster, with his lady-wife and children, every so often returning to the sea to visit his business partners, patrons, and friends.

He recently found out about an ancestor who lived in the Woodford settlement north of Waterford, Leinster, and is building a history of the life of his ancestor who happens to share his artistry and love of the sea.

Offices & Positions

Herald, Canton of Polis Partis (Defunct), Kingdom of Meridies, 4/1994 - 5/1995

Event Staff

Event Steward, Feast of Lughnasagh IV, Jul. 1992

Co-Feastcrat, Aphar Faire, Aug. 1998

Event Steward, Sparkly and Shiny, a Virtual Metal and Glass Althyng, Nov. 2020

Event Steward, Sparkly and Shiny goes to Birka, Feb. 2021

Event Steward, Sparkly and Shiny 3: A New Spring, June 2021

Projects, Publications, and Awards

6th Century Fowler Type F Penannular brooch, copper alloy. Private Collection.

Rendition of the Clough Penannular Brooch, a 7th century piece made in fine silver with amber cabochons for the knighting of Count Ozurr the Bootgiver.

Collaboration with Sir Zhigmun’ Czypsser on Bronze, Viking Plaited spurs for the Knighting of Count Ozurr the Bootgiver.

The Reliquary of St. Brendan's Tooth, a representation of an Insular Tomb Reliquary made for the St. Eligius Arts and Science Competition. Winner- Metalwork, Glass, and Leather category.

Collaboration with Baron Fergus Redmead of a 1st century Celtic Torc as a prize for the Heavy list tournament at Ice Weasel 2020.

Collaboration with Master Antonio Patrasso on the Elevation collar for Lilias de Cheryngton, Master of Defense, February 2021

K A&S 2021 entry "The Evolution of Zoomorphic Penannular Brooches". Honorable Mention

Pelican Medallion for Master Mathias von Würzburg's Elevation, April 2021

Laurel Medallion for Amalie von Hohensee's Elevation, May 2021

Laurel's Challenges, May 2021: La Téne mirror study and Pounding Silver Leaf from ingot.

The Elevation suite of Magistrissa Audrye Beneyt: Pelican Diadem, Pelican Medallion, and assorted finery including Lambay Island Romano-British torc, Romano-British Fibulae set, and matching bracelets, June 2021

Roman Era Laurel Diadem for the Elevation of Gnaea Celera, Crown Tournament of Alberic and Tindal, July 2021

Laurel Wreath for the Elevation of Arabella de Mere, Hundred Minutes War, November 2021

The Thunder Tyger Crowns of the East, first worn by TRMs Ryouko'jin and Indrakshi, Coronation, April 2022 https://wiki.eastkingdom.org/wiki/Thunder_Tiger_Crowns

Upcoming projects can be seen on my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RoibeardmacNeill/

Award of Arms - Market Day at Birka, Jan. 2020

Clothier to the Crown - Ciao Bella Regina: Last Court of Margarita De' Siena, Aug. 2020

Maunche - Second Ethereal Court of Alberic and Tindal, Oct. 2020

Artisan to the Crown - Crown Tournament of Alberic and Tindal, July 2021

Writ from Emperor Ioannes and Empress Ro Honig, Order of The Laurel, Harper's Retreat, Sept. 2021. Elevation into the Order scheduled for War of the Roses, May 2022.

Classes Taught

Metalwork Jam Session - Harper's Retreat 2019. Demo-Style class covering Silver forging techniques, Viking wire plaiting, and bronze fusing and forging

Metalwork Jam Session - Ice Weasel 19

Ancient Wire Plaiting techniques - Gulf Wars XXIX (Event Cancelled) Forging a Gotland Silver Ring - Gulf Wars XXIX (Event Cancelled)

Weekly Live Feed on Facebook from Art Studio where I cover a variety of jewelry making subjects during the Covid-19 Pandemic. All are accessible through the Strongford Arts Facebook page.

-Forging a Hiberno-Norse bracelet- 3/18, 2020

-Forging a Silver Spiral Ring- 3/25, 2020

-Basic Viking Plaiting Techniques- 4/1, 2020

-Advanced Plaiting Techniques- 4/9, 2020

-Making Fibulae- 4/15, 2020

-Forging a silver Thor's Hammer- 4/22, 2020

-Making Viking Stamps for metal- 5/1,2020

-Making Anglo-Saxon Spiral and Looped Rings-5/7, 2020

-Recreating a Celtic Torc, March 2021

-Forging Silver Wire from ingot, April 2021

Gallery of some of my work

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In Case of Court

Please contact Marja Gundesindus de Leon (Dee Rowe-Garcia) to marjadeleon@gmail.com.

Armigerous and Grant-Level awards of any kind would be graciously accepted in Ethereal Court during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For an updated "In Case of Peerage", please contact Lady Marja to the address above