Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, Inis 2019

‘Beatha Abhann na hInse – River Life of Ennis’ are three stained glass lightboxes created by Transition Year Students from Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, Inis. TYs worked on the cross-curricular project with Art Teacher Marie Connole, Artist Nathalie El Baba and Technology Teacher Cian Ó Ríordáin. To celebrate a sense of place students chose the wildlife seen by the River Fergus, the powerful river which runs through the heart of Ennis town.

TY students learned to use glass-cutting tools to cut coloured glass sheets into small tesserae tiles. The tiles were glued onto glass panels laid over their paper-design, developed from discussions in art class. Working in small groups, the students grouted the mosaic glass into position. Later the Transition Years created wooden lightboxes in Technology class. The glass panels were then attached to the painted boxes and wired with two light bulbs.

The three panels are ‘Corr Réisc na hInse – The Heron of Ennis’, ‘An t-Iasc agus an Snáthaid Mhór – The Fish and the Dragonfly’ and ‘Madra Uisce na hInse – The Otter of Ennis’.

This project helped students to develop new skills, learn to create collaboratively and a really enjoyable introduction to Stained Glass and the elements of art and design.