Dame Gillian Weir Medal Designer Announced

Declan Coyle has been chosen by Dame Gillian Weir, from a highly competitive field, to produce in inaugural Dame Gillian Weir medal. It is being awarded by the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition in her honour.

It will be designed and produced by the Londonderry man who is currently studying for a BA Honours Degree in Contemporary Applied Art at the University of Ulster’s School of Art in Belfast. He is a Jewellery and Silversmithing specialist.

Declan’s work has a strong sculptural, figurative and portraiture aspect to it. Amongst his many accolades, he has been recognised at the highest level as an award winner by the British Art Medal Society.

His design for the inaugural Dame Gillian Weir Medal will incorporate the Ulster Hall organ: one of Dame Gillian’s most-loved instruments.

The medal will be presented in person by Dame Gillian for the performance of a single work which she considers the most outstanding in the Senior category.

Entries for this, the world’s leading organ competition for organists aged 21 and under, closes on Friday 20 July.