Musician appeals for help in tracing stolen guitars

A SOUTHSIDE musician
has appealed for help in tracking down a number of unique and rare guitars that
were stolen from his house in Co Wicklow.

Eamon Sweeney, who is
a member of the renowned Gregory Walkers, as well as other ensemble acts, was
stunned to be told that seven of the precious instruments were stolen during
the break-in last week.

Eamon, who was on
holidays in the Aran Islands when the break in occurred described his shock at
the news.

“We’re not sure when
the break-in occurred as the guitars were kept in a studio apart from the
house,

? he said.

“A window was broken and just the guitars were stolen.

“It came as a great
shock as I’m a professional musician and I rely on some of these particular
guitars to play concerts and recitals.

“I have a tour coming
up in the autumn and a CD launch that feature some of the guitars so I’m at a
loss at the moment about what to do about that.

?

Gardaí are
investigating the theft and an appeal for people to keep a look out for the
guitars has been widely shared on Facebook and on Twitter.

Eamon is hopeful that
the reaction on social media will generate some information.

“These aren’t just run
of the mill guitars that you can buy and sell in the shop,” he added.

“These are unique pieces of work that perhaps very few people would recognise
the value of. Some are unusual, historical guitars and very rare in Ireland.

?

There is a reward
offered for information leading to the recovery of the guitars.

Contact the Dublin
People newsdesk on (01) 8162921 in complete confidentiality.

The instruments are:

1. Baroque Guitar – by Ivo Magherini: A high quality copy of a 17th century
instrument. Strung with five sets of double strings, except the first string
left as a single-string. Very beautiful ‘pagoda’ rose decoration in the
soundhole.

2. Baroque Guitar – by Los Utreras ‘Wendy y Tacho’: Similar to the above but
looking a bit more like a natural wood regular guitar. Strung with five sets of
double string, except the frist string left as a single-string. No soundhole
decoration.

3. Classical Guitar – by Joaquin Garcia: A high quality, hand-made, spruce top
concert guitar. Unusually it has an end-pin ‘strap button’ recently fitted.

4. Classical Guitar – by Alvaro: Standard electro-acoustic nylon-string guitar.

5. A 7-course Renaissance Lute – by Harry McCormack: a copy of a ‘Robin Hood’
type of 16th century instrument. Strung with seven sets of double strings,
except the first string left as a single-string.

6. Electric Guitar: Aria Pro II natural wood finish: double cutaway – two
humbuckers.

7. Electric Guitar: Black Stratocaster copy with white pickguard and humbucker
in bridge position