St Gobnait Fake Stained Glass Workshop with Kay O’Donoghue, Saturday February 15th, 2:00pm to 4:00pm , FREE
Join mixed-media Artist Kay O’Donoghue as she guides you to create your very own stained glass inspired artwork.
St Gobnait, Feast day February 11th, is the patron saint of Ironmongers, Beekeepers, and Ballyvourney Co. Cork. Bees were an important natural resource in the Middle Ages, providing wax for candles and document seals, as well as honey for use in cooking and medicinal remedies. Gobnait and her religious house purportedly kept beehives not only for honey and wax, but also for protection against attacks from unwanted invaders. One legend tells us that thieves raided Ballyvourney in an attempt to steal cattle, when Gobnait held a beehive in her hands and prayed for her community’s safety. In answer to her prayer, bees miraculously swarmed out of the hive and attacked the thieves, chasing them away. This miracle story inspired the renowned stained glass artist Harry Clarke, who designed a window of Gobnait for the Honan Chapel at University College Cork that was installed in 1916.
As an homage to her beloved bees and the artist Clarke, we will create a fake stained glass image on glass with bees as our central theme. Please bring your own inexpensive picture frame either 5×7 0r 8×10. Frames can be purchased in Eurogiant or Mr. Price for 2/3 euro.
This workshop is part of the Brigid Fest 2025 celebrations.
