From the fairways of Ireland to the biggest stages in international golf, few trophies carry quite the same sense of craftsmanship and heritage as those created by Waterford.
The Amgen Irish Open Trophy and the Solheim Cup are both crafted at the House of Waterford factory in the heart of Waterford City, where generations of specialist skills come together to transform molten crystal into trophies worthy of some of golf’s most important competitions.
This September, the spotlight has been firmly on the Amgen Irish Open. As Ireland’s national open, the tournament holds a special place in the country’s sporting calendar, but its appeal reaches far beyond Ireland. The 2026 Amgen Irish Open attracted a world-class field to Doonbeg, with some of the biggest names in international golf competing for one of the game’s most historic national titles. The tournament culminated in a remarkable victory for Irish favourite Shane Lowry, who claimed his second Irish Open title with a record-breaking 11-shot victory.
As Lowry lifted the trophy, he was holding a piece of Irish craftsmanship that had begun its journey months earlier in Waterford.
The Irish Open Trophy: A Design Inspired by a Golfer’s Journey
The current Irish Open Trophy was designed in 2022 by Waterford Senior Designer Matt Kehoe. The design was created to represent the progression of a golfer’s career, from amateur beginnings through to professional success.
One of its defining features is a series of vertical cuts that gradually climb upwards through the crystal. As the cuts rise towards the top of the trophy, they represent the golfer’s journey and progression throughout their career, building towards the ultimate achievement of winning the Irish Open.
The result is a contemporary, prestigious national trophy, combining the clarity and brilliance of Waterford crystal with a design that has a strong connection to the sport itself.
Since its launch, the trophy has been presented at some of Ireland’s most renowned golf courses, including Mount Juliet, The K Club and Royal County Down.
But before it reaches the final presentation, the trophy has already passed through the hands of a team of highly skilled craftspeople at the House of Waterford factory.
From Molten Crystal to Championship Trophy
Every Waterford trophy begins its life in the factory at House of Waterford, Waterford City.
The process starts with molten crystal heated to more than 1,400°C. Master craftspeople mouth-blow the crystal into specially prepared wooden moulds, carefully creating the initial form of the trophy.
Once shaped, the piece undergoes a rigorous inspection process before moving through the different stages of its creation. Hand marking creates a temporary geometric grid across the surface, providing the cutters with the precise guide they need to create the intricate pattern.
Waterford’s Master Cutters then use diamond-tipped wheels to carve the design into the crystal. It is a highly skilled process, with the cutters relying on years of training and experience to judge the pressure and depth required for each individual cut.
The final stage is engraving, where intricate details are added to the surface using copper wheels before the trophy is polished and subjected to a final quality check.
This combination of blowing, cutting and engraving is what transforms a piece of crystal into a trophy that will become part of sporting history.
A Trophy with a Story to Tell
The craftsmanship does not stop when the trophy leaves Waterford.
At this year’s Amgen Irish Open, House of Waterford Engraver Nadia was on site to add the winning name to the trophy following the tournament. It was a fitting final stage in the journey of the piece, connecting the craftsmanship of the Waterford factory directly with the moment of victory on the course.
It is this combination of sporting achievement and Irish craftsmanship that makes the Irish Open Trophy more than an award. It is a physical record of the tournament’s history, created by hand in Waterford and carried onto the international sporting stage.
From the Irish Open to the Solheim Cup
The Irish Open is not the only major golf trophy to begin its journey at House of Waterford.
The Solheim Cup, one of the most prestigious events in women’s golf, is also crafted from Waterford crystal. The biennial competition sees the best professional golfers from Europe and the United States compete in a team match-play contest and has become one of the most anticipated events on the international golfing calendar.
The Solheim Cup trophy demands the same combination of specialist skills, with blowing, cutting and engraving all contributing to the finished piece. Its richly detailed surface showcases the precision and expertise of Waterford’s Master Craftspeople.
In 2026, the competition returned to Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, where Team Europe reclaimed the trophy with a 15–13 victory over the United States.
From the Irish Open in County Clare to the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands, these trophies carry a connection back to Waterford City and the craftspeople who create them.
Meet the Craftspeople Behind the Trophies
Seeing the finished trophy on the winner’s podium is only part of the story.
At House of Waterford, visitors can step inside the factory and see the traditional skills behind some of the world’s most recognisable sporting trophies. The factory tour offers the opportunity to watch Master Craftspeople at work, including the cutting and engraving processes used to create intricate designs in crystal.
For golf fans in particular, the experience offers a different perspective on the trophies they see being lifted on the world’s biggest courses. The Irish Open Trophy and Solheim Cup are among the sporting trophies displayed at House of Waterford, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the craftsmanship behind them and experience the trophies up close.
The next time you see the Irish Open Trophy or Solheim Cup lifted in celebration, remember that their story begins not on the final green, but in the hands of the craftspeople in Waterford.