In Pictures: Stone Festival’s gift to Bundoran and nod to cherished stonemason

This year’s Tir Chonaill Stone Festival was a nod to one of the craft’s greatest ambassadors, the late Brendan McGloin. Click on the arrows to see photos by Thomas Gallagher and Tir Chonaill Stone Festival

And in restoring an old stone wall uncovered by the local tidy towns group, the festival really gave something meaningful back to the host community of Bundoran. 

Louise Price from the organising committee said: “The wall had been there a long time. We don’t know who built it, probably a farmer. Bundoran Tidy Towns were doing a lot of work there, planting willow and creating a garden, and in clearing away briars, they uncovered the remains of a wall.

“It was made originally out of shore stone and whatever material was there in the area. We brought in some new stone to make it good again.

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“The wall is on a piece of open ground beside the West End Cliff Walk, just before the Rosbeg Holiday Homes. It was a good choice as a lot of people out walking stopped to chat and to watch what was being done.”

Restoring the wall was the basis for the stone wall workshops taking place over the course of the festival weekend. It was one of a number of links to stonemason Brendan McGloin whose untimely death took place in April, and whose stone sculptures can be seen in a number of locations around Bundoran.

“Brendan’s sister Geraldine told us that they grew up in a guest house near there,” said Louise. “There was a tunnel of briars over the wall and the boys would have been going through it, playing in the area. 

“We had a little bit of his carving work with us and we placed it into the wall.”

Brendan was also remembered at a talk by visiting Welsh stone mason Sean Adcock.

Some years back, Louise was asked to recommend two stone masons, one from Ireland and one from the UK, to attend a conference in Korea. Louise has been instrumental in forging links with the stone mason communities in Korea. 

“I recommended Sean and Brendan, both master craftsmen,” she said. “They both went out to Korea and they got on very well together. 

“Sean was giving workshops at the festival, and he gave a talk about the Korea trip. Brendan’s family were there and they got to see the photos taken in Korea and to hear the stories.”

As well as local participants, Tir Chonaill Stone Festival was attended by people from the US, Wales and all around Ireland.

“It was a good buzz, good craic, and we had a few really good instructors,” said Louise. “It is wonderful to see people returning. They might not come every year but they come often.”

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Louise wishes to acknowledge everyone who took part or supported the festival in any way. She had a special mention for Geraldine McGloin who took on a lot of the organisation and running of the festival, and Cllr Michael McMahon and Bundoran Tidy Towns for contributing the cost of the stone from Drumkeelin quarry. 

Cllr McMahon told Donegal Live: “We were happy to make a contribution. The wall is an attractive piece of work and is very well done.

“We have a small forest out there as part of a Bundoran Tidy Towns biodiversity work and the wall was discovered as part of that work. 

“It was great to see so many people working at it and it makes a lovely difference to the area.”

The councillor also paid tribute to Brendan McGloin.

“Brendan is sadly missed,” said Cllr McMahon. “He was great at the stonework, and a lot of his work is seen around Bundoran.”

Examples of Brendan’s beautiful stone carvings which can be seen in the seaside town include Carriage na nÉan (Rock of the Birds), a beautiful stone sculpture on the Bundoran promenade; An Triur Ceann (The Triskle Heads) at Bundoran Civic Offices; and Olchloch Punta (The Limestone Punt) at the town’s West End.