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From: "Jean Rice" <>
Subject: [IGW] WATSON family of Youghal, Co. Cork (and Belfast, Co. Antrim) - Ancient tradition of stained glass
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 15:42:35 -0800

Stained glass is an old and honorable craft, and in a small Co. Cork seaside
town, one family business has continued this ancient tradition for several
generations. James WATSON first came to Youghal in 1888, but the family
connection with the craft goes back far further. It is a proudly-maintained
tenet of Watson history that their ancestors have been making stained glass
since the Middle Ages and indeed worked on the splendid windows of York
Minster.

Peter, gggson of the original founder, and son of Paul Watson now runs the
business. He started as an apprentice when he left school, learning the
trade from father and uncles, as they had themselves doen before him. "It's
very satisfying. You're creating something beautiful that will last well
beyond your own time." Peter is hoping his two small sons, who are allowed
to watch their father at work, will want to continue the tradition.

James Watson handed the business on to his son, Clement, who in turn handed
it on to no less than six of his own sons: Adrian, Cecil, James, John, Paul
and Peter. James, however, was invited to do some work in Belfast. As so
often happens, he met a local girl up there, married, and set up his own
glass business in the North. Meanwhile, the five brothers back in Youghal
worked together, carrying on their skills, knowledge and carefully-guarded
secrets of this ancient art which had been handed down from one generation
to another.

Back in the early days, there was a lot more heavy work, as the leading had
to be made by a hand-cranked machine, and kilns took days, not hours to fire
up.

They work from their large detailed artistic drawings called "cartoons."

The brilliantly-colored glass used by the Watsons is imported from Europe:
traditionally, the best blue, orange and yellow come from France, green from
Germany, and red from England. Painting is done with a translucent stain
which is applied in different layers to create the effect of light and
shade. A complex piece of work demands several firings, and for final tiny
details a needle is used. Even small scraps of precious glass are kept to
be used for another project.

An example of their lovely work can be seen in the the St. Patrick window at
Christchurch, Innishannon.

The deconsecrated church of Glengarriff is a lovely building which is
enjoying a new lease of life as a popular coffee shop, where light floods in
through deep-set windows. Signature on a window reads "James Watson & Co,
Youghal and London."

Apparently their Cork studio was originally on Catherine Street, on the
quayside, where "Moby Dick" was filmed.

Cecil Watson, though now 78 and officially retired, retains the skills
perfected throughout his working life. He lives in the old family home
which clings to a steep hillside overlooking Youghal Bay. The studio, where
he practices his art from time to time, is like an eagle's nest, even
further up the cliff, and Cecil nimbly skips up the 40 steps leading to it
with its lovely view over town and sea.

-- Excerpts, "Ireland of the Welcomes," Mar-Apr 2002

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• [IGW] WATSON family of Youghal, Co. Cork (and Belfast, Co. Antrim) - Ancient tradition of stained glass by "Jean Rice" <>