Glass sculpture pushes the boat out

A glass sculpture of a boat, entitled ‘A Voyage of Stories’, will be unveiled today by Micheal Murphy, the harbour-master for Bantry Port, in Donemark, Bantry. ‘A Voyage of Stories’ is a collaborative artwork, designed by artist Michael Ray and students at the National Learning Network.

The project, in association with West Cork Arts Centre, began in March. Ray is a glass artist and art therapist. He recently won the National Crafts competition in the glass category. “We knew there was a story associated with the townland, so that was our springboard,” he says of the legend of Cessair. “According to The Book of Invasions, written anonymously in the 11th century, Cessair landed at Donemark in 2361BC, 40 days before the Deluge. Cessair was allegedly Noah’s granddaughter. Her family built a boat, after being refused a place in the ark. All but Fintan died in the flood. He transformed himself into a salmon, and later back into a man, to tell the story. In an earlier myth, Cessair was the founding goddess of Ireland.”

“I didn’t have much interest in mythological stuff, until this project,” says one student. “It was interesting. Cessair and her group were Ireland’s first immigrants, really.”