166 INTERVIEW A grand ol’ time Mara Davis tells Laura Hyde how blending old and new manufacturing techniques helped Bourne Group to create an authentic Irish pub onboard Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess When Princess Cruises embarked on a renovation project on Enchanted Princess, it called upon the expertise of signage designer and manufacturer Bourne Group to help it elevate the interior spaces and add authenticity to the ship’s Irish pub, O’Malley’s. “Our goal was clear,” says Mara Davis, director of business development at Bourne Group. “We wanted to create an Irish pub that would radiate the spirit of Ireland and transport passengers to the heart of the Emerald Isle as soon as they step through the door. We worked with the Princess Cruises’ design team on more than just the necessary signage; they had such a great vision for the space incorporating mirrors, decorative signage, and a statement clock, so when we saw what they were trying to do we just wanted to make it as authentic as possible.” Recognising the importance of finding expertise beyond the in-house team’s scope, Bourne Group collaborated with a specialised business, nestled just outside Dublin in the Irish countryside, with a reputation for creating authentic Irish aesthetics. “Having the opportunity to go to Ireland for this project was exceptionally special,” explains Davis. “This is the first time we’ve ever gone this far on a job, and it changed my whole perspective. It was an incredible experience to be fully immersed in the design and manufacture process for some of the decorative elements, especially the pub’s mirror. “Intricate designs were meticulously etched by hand using techniques that have been around of centuries. Seeing that custom mirror made in Ireland using all the old-fashioned approaches of gold leafing and layering that just aren’t done anymore in the mainstream fabrication world was fascinating. It turned out great and Enchanted Princess has a handcrafted, authentic Irish pub mirror just like those hanging in pubs around Dublin.” Davis also helped to create other decorative elements to give the pub a traditional Irish feel, taking the practical
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