Her Royal Highness Sophie Countess of Wessex takes a little piece of Sligo home

Countess Sophie takes a shine to Croi Sliogan

the new designer jewellery collection by Martina Hamilton

HRH Countess Sophie of Wessex at Chateau Fontainbleau in Paris in October wearing the new Crio Sliogan jewellery pieces by Martina Hamilton. (Image Copyright Serge Reby / Chateau Fontainebleau)

Martina's new collection Croi Sliogan got off to a fantastic start when she was lucky enough to encounter Her Royal Highness Sophie Countess of Wessex in Dublin during her recent state visit with Prince Edward. Martina just so happened to be launching the new collection in Dublin at the Kilkenny Shop when the Countess paid a visit.

‘The Countess admired the collection and asked me in detail about its origin and inspiration. I was happy to tell her about my long Sunday walks on Streedagh, about Sligo being the Shelly Place, and the reference to W B Yeats in the title. I asked her if it was OK for me to present her with a necklace from the collection, to which she replied “No, no unless you allow me to buy the earrings to match”.’

Martina explaining the origin and inspiration for her new Croi Sliogan Collection to Her Royal Highness Sophie Countess of Wessex in Kilkenny Shop Dublin.

We were delighted to see Countess Sophie out and about in Dublin that night and at Chateâu de Fountainebleau in Paris the next day wearing the full collection. The inspiration of a broken piece of shell found on a north Sligo beach on a rainy winter’s day wound up in the international fashion spotlight.

HRH Sophie Countess of Wessex tries on the new Croi Sliogan pendant with assistance from Martina