
Intriguing calligraphy and stained glass workshops coming to Wicklow venue
Using simple materials to work on transparent surfaces such as glass, acrylic, perspex and acetate, the workshop will start by looking at some examples in historical building windows in Europe and the Middle East, with participants practising how to use contouring paste on a piece of acetate.
'In this workshop, we do not use brushes but droppers and special glass paints,' Roxana explained
'By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a sheet of acetate that looks like a stained glass painting.
'This workshop is suitable for participants over 14 years old, is beginner-friendly and open to all levels.
'I provide ready-made printed patterns to save time (we do not create patterns from scratch), and participants who were in the pattern-making workshop can use their own patterns.'
Roxana will return to the Courthouse on Saturday, May 31, from 12 pm to 2 pm for a workshop rooted in Middle Eastern calligraphy where participants can write with Persian reed pens and inks, while learning how to make calligraphy pens at home and design a word of their choice.
Open to all levels and suited for ages 14 and up, the workshop will begin with an insightful talk about the history of calligraphy and the tools used in western and eastern calligraphy.
'I provide books to look at, some printed examples for practising,' Roxana said.
'In the first hour of the workshop, we practice using reed pens and writing some letters. The second half of the workshop is about creative ways to write a word or a sentence and decorate it.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Rich pickings for antique hunters enjoying the fun of the fairs
Even though it is not on Route 66, antique lovers can get their kicks in Birr this bank holiday weekend. The antique and art fair, which runs in conjunction with Birr Vintage Week, will take place at the County Arms Hotel on Monday and Tuesday (August 4 and 5). With more than 30 dealers in antique furniture, art and collectables from around the country in attendance, this popular fair is a fixture at this time of year, as Birr celebrates all things retro with arts, theatre, music, street theatre, pop-up performances, workshops and exhibitions until August 9. There is treasure to be hunted for and found in this great period setting. The enjoyable and long-running antique fair offers a huge variety with everything from vintage Persian rugs to fine art, jewellery and antique furniture with collectables galore. A Persian Hamadan runner at the Birr antique fair. Rarities include a 31-foot-long Persian 1970s Hamadan runner. It is just 2ft 8in wide (9 metres by 900 centimetres). Norman Allison Antiques of Annamore, Co Wicklow, will include it among a selection of handwoven rugs and runners. Collectables are always popular and Robert Hutchinson will offer a display of coins, banknotes and militaria including complete selections of coins of Ireland from 1934, 1939 and 1942. There will be a selection of gold chains and charm bracelets at Eddie Moylan's stand and vintage jewellery from Cherylann. The Purple Onion Gallery will bring a selection of work by Henry McGrane and other artists from their stable. 'Framed by Wisteria' by Mark O'Neill will be at the Treasures Irish Art stand at the Birr antique and art fair. Treasures Irish Art of Athlone is a stalwart supporter of this fair. Its selection will include Framed by Wisteria by Mark O'Neill and Lough Inagh by Grace Cunningham. Organiser Robin O'Donnell confidently expects a great turnout of both regulars and newcomers to this heart of Ireland annual event. Along with rugs, Norman Allison will offer art by the English Victorian landscape painter William Shayer (1787-1879) and a Regency double fusee wall clock. Raymond Byrne will offer small antique furniture pieces, old Irish glass, silver and collectables. A double fusee wall clock at the Birr antique fair. Fairs like this are great hunting grounds for small pieces of silver, old Irish glass, fashion and accessories. You might not even know you really, really wanted it until you see it. And if the wait until Monday proves to be too much, then the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire is the venue for the South Dublin Antiques, Vintage & More Fair tomorrow (August 3). This fair will offer antique and vintage furniture and interior decor, fine art, vintage kitchen and tableware, jewellery, rare books and memorabilia. Dun Laoghaire is one of the most popular venues on the Vintage Ireland calendar of fairs.


The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Gavin White's life from stunning fiancee to job after MOTM display inspired Kerry to All-Ireland glory
GAVIN White gave the epitome of a captain's display as Kerry outclassed Donegal on All-Ireland final Sunday. The Kingdom skipper was duly named Man of the Match after a barnstorming performance where he set the tone from the opening throw-in 4 Kerry triumphed by 1-26 to 0-19 over the Ulster champions 4 He conducted an interview from their team banquet on Sunday night Credit: @TheSundayGame 4 He's been in a relationship with Tara Casey for several years 4 Tara proudly watching on as he went up to collect his POTM gong last night Credit: @TheSundayGame Upon receiving his individual award from GAA president Jarlath Burns at their team banquet on Sunday night, he conducted an interview with In it, the 28-year-old tried to sum up their journey across the 2025 inter-county campaign despite admitting to still being "a bit lost for words." Here, SunSport chronicles his daily life away from the Gaelic football pitch: FIANCEE AND JOB It's been a big 12 months for him as he only got engaged to his long-term partner Tara last year while holidaying in Dubai. Read More On GAA However, even when going on a trip abroad somewhere, Kerry football is still at the forefront for the Dr Crokes clubman as he still fit in time to help out a local club by dropping in as a guest trainer. The Middle Eastern GAA club posted at the time: "Thanks to Kerry Senior Footballer Gavin White @gavwhite97 and his new fiancée Tara Casey @tara_casey97 who visited men's training this morning. "Gavin put the lads through their paces ahead of MEL R2 fixtures in Bahrain next weekend. Congrats to Gavin and Tara on their engagement in Dubai this week!" The flying half-back works as a teacher in Killarney's St Brendan's College. It just so happens that Most read in GAA Football In the build-up to Sunday's showpiece, White talked about how he and his megastar teammate are revelling in passing on their knowledge to the next generation of Kerry footballers. He Cork hurlers catch strays during Jack O'Connor's triumphant RTE interview after Kerry outclass Donegal "It's a different angle that you're looking at and different age groups obviously. It's very enjoyable. "I suppose I was with the senior team there with the Hogan Cup in 2022 and that year I was injured for a good chunk of it, so that allowed me to put a bit more time into the Sem." CAPTAIN'S TONE Throughout his MOTM interview it was noticeable how he constantly side-stepped individual kudos in favour of emphasizing what a team achievement this year's success was. Asked if Sunday was the best game he'd ever had in a Kerry jersey, he instead deflected: "Look, you go out there and try and perform as best you can. "But there's plenty of lads here that played exceptionally well today. "Look at Paudie Clifford having 76 possessions across the game, that's absolutely unbelievable. "But look, it was a team performance and our only objective this morning was to bring Sam Maguire back to the Kingdom. "So we're absolutely thrilled with that."


Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Iraqi music collaboration set to premiere in Sligo tomorrow night
Mshakt Collective playing with some of the North West Folk Collective during a week-long music residency in Derry-Londonderry last summer The project, titled Macalla (meaning echo in Irish), brings together Derry/Londonderry's North West Folk Collective and Iraq's Mshakht Collective. Supported by the British Council, the collaboration has been two years in the making and explores the musical connections between Irish and Middle Eastern traditions. At the heart of the ensemble are two iconic instruments: the Irish harp and the Iraqi qanun, a zither-like instrument played horizontally. They're joined by the Middle Eastern oud (a short-necked lute), Irish pipes, bouzouki, Iraqi violin, Donegal fiddle, and Middle Eastern percussion. Together, the eight-piece group weaves a rich, cross-cultural sound rooted in the musical traditions of Ireland and Iraq. The roots of Macalla lie in a previous British Council-supported initiative, Citadels of the Sun, which saw musician and composer Martin Coyle working with musicians from Rajasthan. A life-changing first visit to Iraq soon after inspired him to form the Northwest Folk Collective, now a hub for globally-minded musicians based in Derry/Londonderry. 'In Mosul, the city we were working in, the community brought us in - they cooked for us, played music with us, and made space for us in the middle of tragedy,' said Martin, recalling a devastating fire that struck shortly before their arrival. 'That welcome really shaped how I see music as a tool for connection.' Since then, both collectives have been working together remotely and in person — arranging music, translating melodies and composing new pieces that reflect the shared storytelling roots and traditions of both places. This performance, taking place at St John's Cathedral, promises to be something special. With its soaring acoustics and intimate atmosphere, the space offers a rare opportunity for the ensemble to share not just their music, but the story behind it. Martin said: 'St John's will have quite a dramatic backdrop, giving us the chance to tell the full story of how this project came about and how it's developed over the past two years. What's exciting is that audiences might recognise certain melodies, but not in the way they're about to hear them. The qanun, in particular, has silenced entire rooms — people stop in their tracks. There's something powerful about hearing familiar music played through the lens of another culture. 'I really hope it challenges some stereotypes too - it's about showing how much we actually have in common. A lot of our traditional music is rooted in dance and folklore, and even rhythmically, things align. We've found loads of crossover - for example, a lot of Middle Eastern music is in 6/8 time, just like Irish jigs. It just fits. 'So whether Macalla is performed in a theatre, a cathedral, or on a festival stage, it'll be a different experience every time — but each version of the show carries that spirit of collaboration and discovery.' Alongside their performance at the Cairde Festival in Sligo, the collective will also perform at the Earagail Arts Festival in Letterkenny on the Saturday (12 July). 'What I'm most looking forward to,' said Martin, 'is just getting everyone back in a room and playing together. We don't get to do that often. So much of this has been developed remotely - now it's time to bring it to life on stage, bounce off each other, and enjoy the gigs.' Jonathan Stewart, Director of the British Council Northern Ireland, praised the collaboration, saying: 'Macalla is a powerful example of how international collaboration can lead to something truly unique and unexpected. The Cairde Festival in Sligo, with its strong focus on creativity, inclusivity, and global perspectives, is the perfect stage to share this kind of boundary-crossing work. We're delighted to support this project and proud to see it come to life in a setting that champions both cultural exchange and artistic innovation.' The collective will play Cairde Festival in Sligo on Friday, 11 July. To find out more and to purchase tickets visit: This initiative continues the British Council's work fostering connections, understanding, and trust between the UK and the world through education, arts, and English language teaching. To find out more about British Council's work in Northern Ireland, visit or follow on X, Facebook, or Instagram.