DRAWstonewalls Winners Announced 2021

Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2021 #DRAWstonewalls international sketch event celebrating dry stone walls. Here are the winners for the #DRAWstonewalls 2021 competition.

These six pieces were created:sketched:stitched:painted by Sinead Lawson @airyfairyletters and were inspired by the Dry Stone Walls of the Dingle Peninsula in the County Kerry. Sinead is the overall winner of the DRAWstonewalls competition and wins an event-only ticket to Féile na gCloch 2022 that will take place on Inis Oírr in the autumn of that year.

Sinead Lawson

The award for best pencil sketch goes to Guadalupe for this fine piece of detail

Guadalupe

Vourneen Taylor wins the category for best study of a specific wall with this water colour

Vourneen Taylor

John Digney receives a commendation for his triptych bringing awareness to the beauty and significance of dry stone walls.

John Digney

Peter Black’s evocation of the shipwreck on Inis Oírr wins the prize for capturing the life and culture of the smallest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay.

Peter Black

DRAWstonewalls 2021

Here are the entries for the #DRAWstonewalls event and competition.

These six pieces were created:sketched:stitched:painted by Sinead Lawson @airyfairyletters and were inspired by the Dry Stone Walls of the Dingle Peninsula in the County Kerry.

From all over the world people of all ages got creative and got involved in the #DRAWstonewalls event and competition. They drew, painted, cartooned, sketched, stitched their local dry stone walls. Some sketched a scene from Inis Oírr or memory of Féile na gCloch and others checked out some of the myths and memories on www.zibaldoneproject.com for inspiration.

Valerie

Guadalupe

Jesse

Betty Byrne

Caitriona S

Caroline

Grainne M

Shared memories of the beauty of Inis Oirr’s dry stone walls and landscapes in this international competition that was open to all ages. 

Alice Campbell

James M

Kasper

Kate Kavanagh

Olly Blake

Ian C

Pat McA

Marie Helene BD

Michael Clancy

Mary O’C

Peter

Vourneen

James Moore

We also had three great images from John Digney on Instragram #Féilenagloch

Monumental

Eddie Farrelly in Conversation with John McEvoy at Baltyboys Cemetery in County Wicklow.

Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones, unfurls virtually in 2021 on the 2nd October. Engage with the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website.

Féile na gCloch, festival of stones, is an annual event on Inis Oírr. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving and letter carving from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands. In 2017, a new workshop was introduced, to reflect on the role that drawing and sketching plays in each of these traditions.

Claíocha Inis Oírr 2021 Coláiste Gobnait

Rinne scoláirí Choláiste Ghobnait staidéar ar bhallaí cloiche Inis Oírr. Chaitheamar trathnóna ag bailliú íomhanna, ag déanamh sceitseanna agus ag tógáil griangrafanna. Ansin phioc na scoláirí na híomhanna a thaitin leo agus rinne siad tarraingtí sa rang ealaíne. Bhain siad úsáid as meain meascaithe, idir peann luaidhe, dúch, uiscedhath agus peann luaidhe daite. Bhí muid ag breathnú ar structúr agus ar phatrún na mballaí, agus na tonnta álainne a bhíonn le feiceáil iontu.

The students of Coláiste Ghobnait made studies of the stone walls of Inis Oírr. We spent an afternoon collecting images through sketching and taking photographs. The students chose the images they liked best to develop into finished pieces in the art class. They used a variety of materials…..pencil, ink , watercolour and coloured pencil. We were focusing on the structure and pattern of the walls and the beautiful tonal qualities they hold.

Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones, unfurls virtually in 2021 on the 2nd October. Engage with the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website. Féile na gCloch, festival of stones, is an annual event on Inis Oírr. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving and letter carving from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands. In 2017, a new workshop was introduced, to reflect on the role that drawing and sketching plays in each of these traditions.

The Quarry Man

Eddie Farrelly explores heritage of the Granite Village in County Wicklow with local Quarryman and Stone Cutter John McEvoy.

Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones, unfurls virtually in 2021 on the 2nd October. Engage with the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website. Féile na gCloch, festival of stones, is an annual event on Inis Oírr. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving and letter carving from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands. In 2017, a new workshop was introduced, to reflect on the role that drawing and sketching plays in each of these traditions.

Bearlargair na Saer

Bearlargair na Saer is the ancient language of masons which goes back beyond written history. It originates from the old Gaelic which added Latin and English as time passed. Keeping the language alive Jim Fahy heard it being spoke in his youth and has studied the language in depth, the stronghold of the language in Ireland being Munster. The video gives a flavour of Bearlargair which spread across the world with journeying stonemasons as they carried their skills far and wide throughout history.

Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones, unfurls virtually in 2021 on the 2nd October. Engage with the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website.

Féile na gCloch, festival of stones, is an annual event on Inis Oírr. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving and letter carving from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands. In 2017, a new workshop was introduced, to reflect on the role that drawing and sketching plays in each of these traditions.

The walls of the Granite Village

Stone Mason Eddie Farrelly goes for a walk along a Dry Stone Wall in Ballknockan with local Quarry Man and stone mason John McEvoy.

Learn about the traditional dry stone walling practices around the Granite Village and hear some local stories about how the walls were built and used.

Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones, unfurls virtually in 2021 on the 2nd October. Engage with the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website.

Féile na gCloch, festival of stones, is an annual event on Inis Oírr. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving and letter carving from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands. In 2017, a new workshop was introduced, to reflect on the role that drawing and sketching plays in each of these traditions.

Naoínra Inis Oirr 2021

Nasc le pobal Fhéile na gCloch. Thóg na páistí claí le bricí sa Naíonra agus dhéan siad garraí amach as clocha d’ainmhithe an Naíonra. Ansin, chuaigh muid go Port na Cille agus thóg siad claí eile thíos ar an trá. Bhi an-spraoi agus spóirt acu. Seo a leanas cuid de na pictiúirí. Míle buíochas leis na múinteoirí Úna agus Máire.

Connection with the community Féile na gCloch. The children built a brick wall in the Naionra and made a field out of stones for the animals of the Naionra. Then we went to the beach and they built another wall down on the beach. They had a lot of fun and really enjoyed it. Here are some of the pictures. Many thanks to Máire & Úna their teachers.

Drawing out the Stones

Watch this conversation with master stone mason Pat McAfee. You might pick up some ideas for the #DRAWstonewalls event and competition.

This years Féile na gCloch festival will be online, and will have lots of great activities to explore and to get involved in. There will be lots of great films and videos to watch, many of which were created especially for the event. Immerse yourself in stone carving, dry stone walling, paving, letter carving, restoration and mosaic. You can go on a virtual exploration of the Island. 

To full enjoy all that is on offer at Féile na gCloch 2021 virtual please log onto ​
Facebook or the Féile na gCloch website
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Or enter one of the competitions and be in with a chance of winning some great prizes. In collaboration with Dublin Sketchers, JesseJames from the Zibaldone Project are hosting an online sketching event and competition. The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland is delighted to support the Féile na gCloch festival by once again running a miniature dry stone wall building competition. Pick up some tips on how to build miniature dry stone walls.​

Closing date for entries is Sunday 10th of October. Prizes include: Event only ticket to Féile na gCloch 2022, Stone Tool vouchers, Festival Tshirts & Hoddies and more.

Watch Féile na gCloch 2021 world premier

Enjoy this video showcasing the energy and sense of community around the many crafts that are celebrated and nurtured at Féile na gCloch each year on Inis Oírr.

Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones, unfurls virtually in 2021 on the 2^nd October. Engage with the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website.

Féile na gCloch, festival of stones, is an annual event on Inis Oírr. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving and letter carving from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands. In 2017, a new workshop was introduced, to reflect on the role that drawing and sketching plays in each of these traditions.