There is a stone festival, called Tír Ċonaill Stone Festival, being held 17-19 June at Glencolmcille, Co Donegal, in Ireland. It is being organised by the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland – www.dswai.ie
Ruairi Dennison, who lives in Duagh in Kerry, is one of the people who is carving their county into stone to make a wall of the 32 counties of Ireland for the Festival. There are other carvers across Ireland using the local stones to make the shape of all the counties. They have been given templates to work to so the counties will jigsaw together in the finished project.
Ruairi has written about his contribution on his Facebook page.
He says: "I really like the concept. When its finished it will be just 75mm thick, with lettering and design work; one day down on this piece with many more to go, hope I don't break it."
The program for the Festival includes:
- Master class by Christian Helling on carving
- Walling workshops with finest Donegal stonemasons on historic schist walls of Cashel
- Unveiling of our ambitious collaborative sculpture project marking the centenary - a 32-county map of Irealnd made from all native stone by masons from across the whole of Ireland
- Talks & presentations by skilled stone craftspeople
- Guided tour of ancient stone heritage sites
- Music and craic by evening
If you are interested in going, contact Louise Price for more information on +353 87 322 3965 / email: info@dswai.ie.
Click here to go to the festival website.
The Festival is being held in an idyllic location in west Donegal that is part of the Wild Atlantic Way – an area of outstanding beauty.
If you want to stay in the area during the Festival (and early booking is strongly advised) contact Cliff Taylor (accomodation co-ordinator) at Ionad Siul Guesthouse: +353 74 9730302 and Dooey Hostel: +353 74 973 0130. For B&Bs: Martin Cunningham +353 877677116.