Gobnaits bowled over as they join forces for festival celebrating namesake 

Caitríona Gobnait Uí Shúilleabháin taking part in the road bowling competition — open only to people named Gobnait, naturally — during the St Gobnait Festival in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, ahead of St Gobnait's feast day on Tuesday. Picture: David Creedon

There was a time when the name was the butt of almost every joke, following an infamous 1980s skit featuring Irish comedian Frank Kelly.

However, Gobnaits everywhere finally got their revenge as part of a unique show of strength to honour their beloved namesake, St Gobnait. 

An army of people bearing the name turned out for the St Gobnait’s Festival in Ballyvourney on Sunday which celebrated the local patron saint. 

Eileen Gobnait Ní Lionáird, Caitríona Gobnait Uí Shúilleabháin, Eibhlín Gobnait Ní Chríodáin, Gobnait Uí Laoire, and Gobnait Ní Mhurchú at the festival in Ballyvourney, Co Cork on Sunday. Picture: David Creedon

The Gaeltacht village welcomed Gobnaits from every generation and part of the country for the spectacle.

Events included The — Gobnaits only — Gobnait Ní Thuma Perpetual Trophy Road Bowling Competition as well as a blacksmithing workshop and showing of Gobnait: the Musical. 

The activities took place ahead of her feast day this Tuesday.

Gobnait and Jenny Nagle at the Saint Gobnait Festival in Ballyvourney, Co Cork. Picture: David Creedon

Gobnait, who travelled to Múscraí from the Aran Islands, is known as the patron saint of beekeepers. She is associated with the Múscraige and her church and convent lay on the borders between the Múscraige Mittine and Eóganacht Locha Léin.

The weekend of events was organised by Múscraí Development Co-Op language planning officer, Eibhlín Ní Lionáird, to mark the lead-up to St Gobnait’s feast day on February 11.

Many people express great devotion to St Gobnait and the the much-loved saint is depicted with her bees in a stained glass window by Harry Clarke in the Honan Chapel, UCC.

Gobnait Ní Chrualaoí, who attended the festival, said that growing up with the name was tough due to its association with Frank Kelly’s famous character Gobnait Ó Lunacy. The RTÉ sketches did a lot for the late actor’s career but little for Gobnaits across the board.

His famous ‘Christmas Countdown’ record was often played on loop to the frustration of Ms Ní Chrualaoí.

Tom King 'An Gobha' gets a helping hand at his metalcraft demonstration as part of St Gobnait's festival, Ballyvourney. Picture: Gerry MacBride

“I didn’t like being called Gobnait at all," she told the Irish Examiner. "There was no other Gobnait around. I was the only one. People used to laugh at my name and I could never understand why my mother called me Gobnait. 

"Frank Kelly’s character didn’t serve me or any other Gobnait well. I wouldn’t call it bullying but there was certainly a lot of disrespect for the name after that.” 

Dozens of women and girls named Gobnait took part in the Saint Gobnait Festival in Ballyvourney, Co Cork. Picture: David Creedon

The 58-year-old, who grew up in Ballincollig and moved to Ballyvourney as an adult, said her mum had often prayed to the saint.

“She was reared with a devotion to St Gobnait. People of her generation would have come back to Ballyvourney periodically to do the round if somebody was sick or they needed help. 

Gobnait Ní Chrualaoí (centre, with Gobnait Uí Cheallaigh and Eileen Gobnait Ní Lionáird) highlights the devotion many people have to St Gobnait and says she earned the name due to her mother's gratitude to the saint. Picture: David Creedon

"When she was pregnant with me she was feeling quite unwell. 

"She had a miscarriage between myself and my older brother so she was very worried and decided to come back and do the round. 

As soon as she had finished it she felt better. From that day on she said if her child was born a girl she would call her Gobnait and that’s how I got my name.

Gobnait described her previous experience of the event.

Lorraine Gobnait de Búrca and Austin Twomey at the festival in Ballyvourney, Co Cork on Sunday. Picture: David Creedon

“To be in the same room as 40 other Gobnaits after spending your whole life as the only one was a weird-but also brilliant-feeling. 

"I rarely had an experience like that where there has been even one other person with the same name as me. It’s a really wholesome and warm event. 

"It was lovely to be with all the Gobnaits. 

Sculptor Séamus Murphy making his statue of St Gobnait which was unveiled in Ballyvourney in 1951. 

"I even met a second cousin who had travelled all the way from Tipperary for the festival. 

"Growing up I never thought that a festival like this would ever exist. It never even entered my imagination.”