Forge Your Irish Legacy in Stone

Are you an Irish-American seeking a tangible, screen-free connection to your heritage? This isn’t a history lesson—it’s an opportunity to become a custodian of a living tradition. Our three-tier stone carving courses offer a deep immersion into the authentic craft passed down by generations of Irish master masons.

Led by a sculptor with an international career—including work for the Vatican and current partnership with the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life—this is your chance to learn the skills, the stories, and even the secret language of your stonemason ancestors.

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Why Our Courses? An Authentic Irish Lineage

Your training will connect you directly to a specific, unbroken Irish lineage. Our master sculptor had the privilege of training under two master stonemasons: Gerald Byrne from Wicklow and Gérard Dooley from County Offaly. These masters, steeped in the Celto-Scandinavian, Hiberno-Romanesque, and Munster Schools of Carving, ensured that a piece of Ireland’s ancient stonework tradition found new life.

This is more than just carving; it’s an initiation. You will gain insight into:

• Bearlog (Bearla Lagair na saor): The fascinating, secret language of the Irish stonemasons.
• The Gobán Saor: The allegorical tales through which centuries of craft wisdom were imparted.
• The Living Tradition: Your participation directly supports the West of Ireland Sculpture Initiative, contributing to the creation of monumental figures like Manannán mac Lir and ensuring this ancestral craft endures.

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Our Three-Tier Stone Carving Courses

Choose the path that aligns with your ambition and join us in revitalizing this vital piece of Irish culture.

Tier 1: The Essentials (£650)

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Your First Cut into a Timeless Irish Skill

Escape the digital and forge a tangible link to your roots! The Essentials is the perfect introductory course for those who value heritage and hands-on creation. You will master the foundational classical carving techniques used for centuries in Ireland—skills preserved and passed down by masters who taught our own sculptor.

• Focus: Core techniques, tool sharpening, and understanding the ‘language’ of stone.
• Heritage Focus: Exploring the Gobán Saor tradition and how stone was used to embed poetry and custom into monuments.
• Outcome: You will leave with a foundational skill and your own finished piece of authentic Irish stone.
• Perfect For: Beginners and anyone interested in genealogy, history, and a hands-on experience of Irish culture.

Tier 2: The Carver’s Core (£1,050)

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Work Where the Tradition Lives

Want to connect with your Irish heritage beyond a pub and a photo? The Carver’s Core is an intensive, five-day workshop held in the master’s own West of Ireland studio. Here, you’ll learn the secrets of the craft from a tradition passed down from two great masters, Gerald Byrne and Gérard Dooley.

• Focus: Rigorous, screen-free immersion into craft psychology, design principles, and complex carving skills.
• Heritage Focus: Deep dive into “The Song”—the holistic rhythm uniting Irish poetry, language, and stone sculpture, including the unique connection to the Wren Boys tradition.
• Outcome: A significant advancement in skill and a deeper understanding of the processes directly supporting monumental projects like the Manannán mac Lir sculpture.
• Perfect For: Those with some experience, or dedicated beginners seeking a full immersion into the ancestral craft.

Tier 3: The Elixir (£3,500)

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An Initiation into the Bearlog and the Living Tradition

Our most exclusive masterclass is a commitment to excellence and a return to the roots of Irish craft. The Elixir is not just a carving course; it’s a privileged access point to an almost lost heritage, limited to four students in spectacular Irish locations.

• Focus: Mastery of complex techniques from the Celto-Scandinavian and Munster Schools of Carving, grounded in the philosophy of Arete.
• Heritage Focus: The ultimate insider experience. You will be initiated into the allegorical tales of Gobán Saor and gain insight into the Bearlog, the Irish secret language of the stonemasons.
• Outcome: A direct participation in the West of Ireland Sculpture Initiative and a lasting connection to a specific, traceable Irish master lineage.
• Perfect For: The dedicated patron or serious student seeking exclusivity, authenticity, and a role in preserving this vital cultural craft.

The Elixir VIP: Private Studio Experience

The Private Studio Experience is the pinnacle of the Master’s teaching and craft, offered on an exclusive, private one-to-one or one-to-two basis. It is a seven-day, fully bespoke engagement priced at £10,000 or more, depending on location and project scope.

Core Experience and Focus

This private masterclass transcends standard instruction by integrating the client’s goals directly into the philosophical and practical curriculum.

1. Custom Commission: The seven-day intensive is typically centered around a high-value, custom commission—such as a personal crest, a specialized architectural element, or a piece of philosophical sculpture—which the client either works on personally or observes the Master executing while receiving highly focused, private instruction.
2. Philosophical Integration: The experience is a direct application of the Master’s unique Intellectual Property (IP), leveraging principles like Arete (excellence) and Eudaimonia (human flourishing) to deliver a transformative experience that applies to both stone carving and professional life.
3. Mindful Refuge: It provides a Mindful Refuge from the demands of the modern world, fostering absolute presence and stripping away non-essential distractions through the rigorous, tactile demands of the craft.
4. Exclusivity & Discretion: All participants are required to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to reinforce the exclusivity of the content and protect the unique lineage and unreleased intellectual property shared by the Master.

Logistics and High-End Service

The Private Studio Experience is often held at a custom international location, with all logistics managed by a network of specialized “Local Fixers” to ensure a flawless luxury experience. The fee covers all materials, bespoke tools, and dedicated, non-stop access to the Master’s expertise for the full seven-day duration. The experience is designed to leave the client with profound, lasting clarity and a direct connection to an unbroken lineage of craft.

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