Art window dedicated to Monsignor unveiled in Ventry

EXTRAORDINARY circumstances played a role in the design of the stained glass window, dedicated to the late Mons Padraig Ó Fiannachta, which was unveiled in

Seipéal Naomh Caitlíona, Ventry on Saturday evening.

In discussions about the design for the window, which started five years ago between artist Mary Leen and the Monsignor, Mary suggested the inclusion of Saint Jerome and St Michael. Coincidentally,

Mons Pádraig was working for the

Vatican on St. Jerome’s translation of the Bible and had a copy on his desk when Mary called in to discuss this idea.

The late Monsignor had also translated the Bible – in his case into Irish – and Mary added this reference to her stained glass window in which she shows St Jerome holding a copy of An Biobla Naofa.

The draft design of the window, which was intended as a gift to

Ventry church, was approved before Mons Ó Fiannachta’s death in

July 2016 and it fell to his nephew

Paddy Fenton to see the project to completion.

“To complete and install a work such as this takes co-operation from a number of people, Paddy Fenton was amazing he was a pleasure to work with,” Mary told The Kerryman this week.

The window contains 2,000 pieces of glass, each individually hand painted and fired, and it took seven months of full time work to complete.

The evening sun casts a brilliant reflection of Mary Leen’s stained glass window dedicated to Mons Pádraig Ó Fiannachta.