As Published in the Donegal Times.
Tirconnell Stone Festival drew
in crowds from far and wide to Glencolmcille on the weekend of June 19th
-21st. The dry stone wall building and Stone carving workshops were
organised by The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland to teach and preserve
our traditional crafts.
Member Louise Price from Donegal Town Sligo
to elderly gentlemen so positive for us to see such keen interest.”
The carving workshops took
place in the mart with each participant set up with pedestals, hammers and a
variety chisels.
Victor Daly stone carver from
Cork
Stone mason Jim Fahey in his strongCork
Stone mason Jim Fahey in his strong
Michael Mc Groarty a stone mason
from Mountcharles was the instructor for the stone writing workshops where
participants carved name plaques for homes or their gardens. One such was Niamh
Learmont from Gortahork who carved ‘Teac Anna Paidí’ for the home of her great
grand mother that she was restoring. Another was 13 year old Andrew Water’s from
Streedagh, who carved the name ‘Inishmurry’ for his grand father’s old house, he told me he was the King of the Island .
Paul Munyon a retired academic
from Grinnell, Iowa, a first timer at stone carving was there with his wife
Marie Comford who herself was learning dry stone walling. Both returned to Co
Mayo to renovate Marie’s family homestead. Each an every piece of stone chipped
and carved in the workshops had a story to tell.
Outside a large number of
participants took part in building the dry stone wall. The wall is built of Glen's native Schist from William Maxwell's Quarry. But this was a wall with
a difference, in the wall were large key stones each carved by different
carvers and these acted like the guiding lines.
The mother stone was gifted
from the island
of Inis Oirr Galway
then driven to the Glen by Louise Price, one of the festival organisers.
The Kilkenny sandstone chair
was gifted by Christian Helling. The chair was brought up by Christian Helling and fellow stone
masons from Cork
He said “It has taken me a
year to find this perfect stone. It is given in memory of Martin Mc Brearty a
founding group member who recently passed away. They say as long as someone’s
remembered they never leave us so I carved his name in to the arms of the large
chair and now when visitors sit and read his name he is always remembered”.
Michael Mc Groarty from
Mountcharles choose Barnesmore Granite for his stone.
“It’s the hardest of the
stones to carve but the longest lasting . I choose the North Star to put on it
as by land or fishermen of sea it is always a guiding light home and very
significant to the area. I choose the words “ Nuair is gá dom fháil bhaile. Is
tú mo Réalt eolais” translated means. When I need to get home. You’re my
guiding light, inspired by an Ed Sherran song.
The carved strong face of the
man, who watches all who come along the road, was carved by Louise Price who
said “I call him Vincent, cause he lost and ear along the way but you don’t
quite notice in the wall”.
The beautiful golden Sandstone stands centre
along the top wall was carved by local stone mason Paul ‘Phaid’ Cunningham.
Paul said “I wanted to incorporate
everything that is Glen, this beautiful place. I have the rams head, the sea
and fish, the Standing stones of the past and the headland looking out to see
and the Celtic spirals and labyrinths of the past. This stone tells Glen’s
story” and the sandstone Paul used is local Drumkeelan sandstone from Brian Kerrigan's Quarry.
The Foundation stones of the
wall were laid under the watchful eye of stone mason Ronan Crehan, a Meath man
but married and living in Glen. Ronan, Patsy Mc Inaw and the other instructors
guided and taught the participants in the unrelenting rain of Saturday through
to completion in the sunshine of Sunday.
A first time visitor to Ireland who came all the way from New South Wales
“I’m a stone mason in Wagga Wagga where I’m from but I came here to relearn my craft the proper way. I’ve
had so much laughter and stories and learned so much, it’ll be hard to leave. I
just love the community spirit that been so warm the whole weekend”.
The sunshine brought all the
local community out together with the visitors who happened to come along the
road and many stopped to lay a stone such as a young visitor from Nepal
Attendee's of The Heritage Council's, Dry Stone Wall seminar were brought along by heritage officer Joe Gallagher to view the work in progress and enjoy talking with instructors while they worked.
Other visitors on site were Councillor Niambh Kennedy and Councillor John Campbell arriving in the afternoon sunshine, the perfect moment to take in the beauty of the new wall in such natural settings.
Attendee's of The Heritage Council's, Dry Stone Wall seminar were brought along by heritage officer Joe Gallagher to view the work in progress and enjoy talking with instructors while they worked.
Other visitors on site were Councillor Niambh Kennedy and Councillor John Campbell arriving in the afternoon sunshine, the perfect moment to take in the beauty of the new wall in such natural settings.
On Saturday evening there was
a blessing and family memorial service for Martin Mc Brearty who had recent
passed away. He will be much missed in the local community as well as in the stone mason community . Some lovely stories and so many fond memories of him were being shared over the whole weekend.
As the end of the weekend was in sight Louise
price said “This weekend has been about living history, living heritage and
sharing our knowledge and teach the skills so it will continue.”
Tirconnell Stone Festival would like to thank their funders of the project;
Donegal County Council and The Education Training Board ETB.
