duiske crystal

During the 12th Century Norman invaders introduced the Cistercian Order of Monks to Ireland. In 1204 A.D. Duiske Abbey was founded (pronounced Doo-isk). The settlement became known as Craig-na managh (Village of the Monks). The name of the Abbey, and later of Duiske Glass is taken from the stream called Duiske (Dubh uisce or Black water), which meets the River Barrow at Graignamanagh. Under the rule of Henry VIII, Monasteries were suppressed. Yet in the second half of the 19th century, the village could boast of 300 craft workers. From an O'Shea family heritage of four generations in crafts, Maureen and Henry founded Duiske Glass in 1974. They revived here the traditional intaglio method of engraving, which local craft workers now use to create elegant pieces of Duiske, Irish Handcut Glass.