The Glass Society of Ireland is proud to support Beads of Courage, an innovative Arts in Medicine program offered in hospitals across Ireland.

Beads of Courage provides hospitalised children facing serious illness with a powerful way to tell their stories and celebrate their strength. As they undergo treatments and medical procedures, children receive color-coded glass beads—each representing a specific part of their journey.

Over time, these beads accumulate into meaningful strands that reflect their experiences, milestones, and resilience. Every bead stands for something—a procedure completed, a courageous moment, or a challenge overcome—offering both a visual narrative and a sense of achievement. The program fosters connection, comfort, and creativity among children navigating similar challenges.

The Glass Society of Ireland is honoured to contribute to this remarkable initiative, helping to bring art, meaning, and colour into the lives of brave young patients.

 

 

Call for Bead Donations

Irish beadmakers are warmly invited to contribute handmade beads for the Beads of Courage program. Beads can be made on the torch but also using polymer clay.

Please send your beads to:

Cheryl Cobern Browne

Mulranny Arts

Heather Rise, Mulranny, Co. Mayo

F28 K033

 

 

Beadmaking Gathering at Mulranny Arts For GSoI Members 

Cheryl Cobern Browne will host an open Beadmaking Studio week from November 4th to 10th at Mulranny Arts. All supplies—including glass—are provided free of charge. The studio will have up to 10 torches available, and beadmakers from anywhere are welcome to come and make beads throughout the week to donate to the program.

Please note: this is not a teaching event—participants should have prior experience using a torch.

Accommodation for the week or any days during the week is available at a special rate and all details are in the latest newsletter.

To book a torch (and accommodation, if needed), please contact Cheryl.

Let’s come together to create something meaningful—one bead at a time.

Testimony From Míde Quinlan-Reddin

In the summer of 2021 our world changed forever. My 6 year old grandson, Olcán Wilkes, full of life and energy, was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia and PNH, a rare and serious condition where the bone marrow stops producing blood cells. It came out of nowhere and he was immediately admitted to hospital for tests, transfusions, etc., often for periods lasting a number of weeks. The treatment was very severe, but Olcán always bore it with a smile.
Over the next two years he was very lonely, with just his mother (my daughter) for companionship. He missed his father, little brother and the animals at home. That is when the Beads of Courage entered his life. Who would believe that something so small could mean so much to him. After each treatment he would receive a bead, different colours for each procedure. He would string the beads up and log them in a book. He became very proud of his beads and would Facetime me to show me how big the strand had become, twice as tall as himself, explaining which bead represented what. The Beads of Courage helped him tell his story and realise he was resilient, brave and strong.