8pm

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Medieval Glass Beads | Presentation by Dr Mags Mannion

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Glass beads have been a popular and important aspect of body ornament from earliest times. Human engagement with beads however extends far beyond their use as jewelry. Beads are known to have been used as amulets to ward off danger, to convey unspoken complex social messages, as mnemonic devices in traditional Scandinavian storytelling, as non-verbal communicators among native North Americans, and as symbolically charged objects among enslaved Americans. The study of body ornament therefore allows an insight into the social and cultural structures and beliefs of society and provides a means of exploring the ways in which individuals and societies engaged with each other. This presentation will explore the variety of colours and decorative motifs medieval artisans employed to produce an astonishing variety of uniquely individual glass beads.

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Dr Mags Mannion is a glass bead specialist. Mags completed a PhD with the Archaeology Department in NUI Galway, developing a classification of early medieval beads from Ireland. She teaches graduate and postgraduate modules with the Archaeology Department and has presented her research in publications and at both Irish and international conferences, most recently at the 8th International Congress of the AFAV on Medieval glass in Western Europe in Besancon France.

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As a glass bead artist, Mags has given bead making demonstrations and classes to undergraduates and MA students, and also at public events such as Nuig Aisiri, heritage week in Athenry, Shorelines Festival Portumna, Loughrea Medieval Festival and Claregalway Castle Christmas Market among others.

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Thursday, March 9, 8pm, Bank of Ireland Theatre