Irish Rosary Beads – The Connemara Marble Story

Here at Connemara Marble Jewelry we are a third-generation family run business that was founded 79 years ago.

The company was the brainchild of Thomas, when he and some of his oldest friends formed The Irish Consolidated Bead Company on the 28th of November 1945 . The aim of that company was to produce Rosary beads for the Irish and overseas market, and was based in a small workshop in Terenure Place, Dublin here in Ireland.

Some of the earliest products produced were rosaries made of horn, wood, and Connemara marble. In 1947 we supplied rosaries to the world’s first duty-free shop in Shannon Airport.

Thomas recognised the importance of the export market, and most especially the American market as an outlet for Irish rosaries. He participated on a government sponsored trade mission to the USA in October 1963 and the highlight of that trip was meeting President John F. Kennedy in person in the Rose garden of the White House .

Changes in church practice in the 1960’s led to a decline in sales of traditional rosaries, but at the same time the tourism market was opening up in Ireland and the company switched focus to producing Connemara Marble gifts and gemstone jewelry made from green, Connemara marble. Today we still hand craft our Irish rosary beads and continue to do so using the same methods first adopted.

Few things reflect the beauty of creation more strongly than the deep and varied greens of Connemara Marble. So rare it is found only in one corner of Ireland’s Atlantic seaboard. The first Irish Rosaries were made by monks of the great settlements like Cashel, Clonmacnoise and Glendalough. They fashioned beads of natural beauty and simple strength. Their strength in particular put them much in demand in medieval Europe, where the rosary was a widely observed meditation, and a personal link with the Creator.

Our rosary beads continue that tradition, combining natural beauty with practical strength. Carry them with you and tranquillity will never be far away. Each rosary holds a very special meaning both to us and the receiver. These beads continue that tradition, our natural gemstone Connemara Marble is carefully hand carved in our family workshop here in Ireland.

Rosary beads are an inter-generational gift often passed down through the hands of mothers to daughters, fathers to sons – a link between generations that become a family heirloom.

I hope you enjoyed learning about our rosary making and if you would like to see some of our Irish Rosary Beads you can see them here at www.connemaramarble.com

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