My Life with Finn Jesch: I am Ireland's first and only bubbleologist
Finn Jesch, Bubbleologist, Scarriff, Co Clare. Picture: Eamon Ward
One of the most memorable moments of my career was a request from a 90-year-old lady who asked if I could place her inside a giant bubble.
That was at a festival in Kinvara, and I was more than delighted to oblige. It might sound like a bizarre encounter, but anything can happen at a bubble show. As Ireland’s first and only bubbleologist, I have been working with bubbles since 2018. However, it was only in September of last year that I officially qualified.
It was at a bubble festival in Cleveland that I had the opportunity to meet with many of the bubble legends. They taught me a wealth of skills, and I also undertook private training in the UK.
The Association of International Bubble Artists requires you to demonstrate two years of artistic or professional bubble work before you can become a member. You also need to have two sponsors and agree to the organisation’s code of conduct.
My wife Brona and I travel the country with our company, Little Top Stars, providing entertainment and circus skills workshops for schools and events. Bubbles are a huge part of what we do.
Our show, the Drop Science Bubble Show, sees me transform simple raindrops into extraordinary bubble creations while revealing the fascinating science behind them.
The work is very rewarding because it reminds you that anything is possible. The 90-year-old lady who asked me if she could be placed in the bubble initially queried whether bubbles are only for children. The reality is that bubbles are for everyone, and she soon saw that for herself. The sight of her blowing bubbles through the wall of this giant bubble was a moment of pure joy.
Another special moment involved a little girl at a school we visited who was on the spectrum. Her wish was to make bubbles at the top of the slide so she could watch them fly over the fencing around the school. She did this so beautifully. It reminded us that the opportunities to be creative with bubbles are limitless. A carousel, a cube, and a tornado are among just some of the forms my bubbles can take.
I also work with lights, helium, and even fire to make the bubbles as spectacular as possible. All the while, I am talking about what is happening scientifically to add an educational element to the performance.
No two bubbles are ever the same, as they always vary depending on the light, size, air, and weather conditions.
Our work can take us anywhere from youth services to direct provision centres and homeless shelters. We have worked with many people who have suffered. What we do is totally different in that we don’t go into the struggles at all. We are only with people for a short time and, while neither of us is a therapist, our sessions are very therapeutic. We often allow people to make their own giant soap bubbles.
They could be doing this for hours on end. You can see that — for that time — they are just living in the moment. They are at peace there and then, even though they may be returning to a situation that’s not very pleasant. We can only hope the break will go some small way towards helping them.
There are a lot of factors you have to be mindful of when working with bubbles. Safety is very important because soap is slippery, and part of our work is ensuring that everything is safe. Sustainability is also a priority for us.
We have to double check that everything we use is biodegradable and the soap is non-toxic. I have a real passion for what I do, so much so that I’ll often blow bubbles while I’m alone just for fun. The real joy I derive, though, comes from the reactions of others.
One of my proudest moments was creating a bubble cube on live television. That was difficult because I had to be really quick so the bubble didn’t pop. Luckily, it went off without a hitch. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out why a trick doesn’t work.
It could be down to pollen in the air, the temperature, or the kind of liquid you use that prevents it from working so well. Bubbles really are a science in their own right.
I think the appeal of bubbles comes from the fact that we are so overstimulated in terms of technology and screens. Bubbles have something kind of primitive about them, which might be part of their appeal. When you put humans and bubbles together, there are always surprises, and that’s really positive for me to see. I have worked with children in refugee camps where there were various challenges due to factors like the language barrier and temperatures.
However, as soon as you bring out the bubbles, they are all smiles. It’s an experience they will never forget; they give me more than I could ever give them. There is a real sense of community and kindness, and the feeling of sharing what little you have.
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