O'Gowna Studios

08/11/2026

CLERYS GAVE IRISH MAKERS A SHOP WINDOW. COULD THE GPO GIVE US A STAGE?

Some of you may remember showcasing your products in Clerys on O’Connell Street.

Now an exciting opportunity has arisen directly across the street, in the historic GPO!

The OPW is inviting expressions of interest for a new cultural space, and I’m proposing The Postscript Exchange, bringing together Irish artists, designers, craftspeople and the many cultures that now call Ireland home.

Imagine a vibrant space for exhibitions, live demonstrations, workshops, storytelling and showcasing the extraordinary talent we have in Ireland.

The GPO once connected Ireland to the world. Now it could celebrate the world that has become part of Ireland.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INVOLVED?

I’m inviting expressions of interest from members and other creative people who might like to participate if our proposal succeeds.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST with fellow artists, designers, makers and cultural organisations throughout Ireland.

Let’s see what we can create together!

👇 Comment below or send me a message.

28/10/2026

On the 28th of October 1726 a question was asked by Johnaton Swift in his book Gullivers Travels. Are you a big endion or a little endion as in which side of the egg should be broken first. The emperor of Lilliput commands his people to break the small end while there was rebellion and the people of Belfusco were big endions. Lilliputia enlisted the help of Gulliver to support their war against the big endions. When Swift wrote this he was mocking the disputes between Catholics and Protestant and England and France and how easy we go to war

28/10/2026

A lovely autumn day to dry the Celtic chess pieces outside. These are from our Fidchell Celtic chess game which dates back to the days of the ancient Celts. The word Fidchell is the Irish word for chess. The literal translation is wood wisdom or wisdom of the board it is from old Irish. The entomology of the word is unique to the Irish language which means it doesn’t come from Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit which tend to be the foundation of most modern words. What this means is the Irish/Celtic people had a word for chess long before it appeared in the rest of the world. This supports the theory that the Irish invented chess. Check out my website for further details. https://ogowna.com/shop/ols/products/irish-game-heritage-week-fidchell-chess

12/10/2026

Today was Boxing Day. Did you know we make all own in boxes in house. This means there is no waste. The off cuts from the cut board are used business cards, swing tags, euro slot cards for display and pricing. We can make one box or 1,000 boxes depending on the weekly requirement. This means no over runs no wasted packaging. In the same way all our handmade products are made to order. Once the boxes are die cut we will then print them by hand using our Foil blocking process.

04/10/2026

Great Day for Naul Village with the opening of the Pocket park and playground with mayor Tony Murphy Minister Dara Calleary I presented him with one of our vintage GAA Mayo Footballers and being a Mayo Man he was delighted. Many other dignitaries and community volunteers attended all of whom worked together to make this happen. The 🛝 slide was great.

05/09/2026

27/07/2026

Monday 27th of July 2026, A holy day of Obligation in Mayo. The pregnant pause after the Claxton Sounded was followed by tears and cheers of joy, relief, elation and pure disbelief of what had been achieved after 75 years and the breaking of the curse. The last man from the last team passed away a few years ago and it is rumoured he spent his last years living in Kerry and they kept him on life support. I do have to say the level of support for the Mayo team has never wavered despite losing 12 finals the county continued to have faith and a relentless belief in their players they are an example to others. The pubs that were open ran out of drink the others closed to enjoy the celebrations as had the coffee shops and restaurants. Credit card machines became overwhelmed as cash was needed to continue the celebrations car 🚗 horns stopped around 6am as people fell into a slumber no where opened, or if they did nowhere opened on time 🕰️ no explanations needed. As we drive back to Dublin every where is quiet no activity other than a sign wrighter in Swinford updating the shop window with championship winners 2026. machines that are usually busy on the N 5 remained still it was reminiscent of the Covid days or a zombie apocalypse everything was still. At least until we hit Strokestown as the machines are in full swing working on the roundabout in the centre. The calm before the storm in Mayo as Sam returns for the First time in 75 years the storm of Red and Green arrives in Castlebar and the party continues….

16/04/2026

Today’s work in the studio. Dublin Landmarks The GPO — Heart of the Rising
On O’Connell Street, in the centre of Dublin, stands a building that has watched the city change, fall, and rise again — the General Post Office.
At first glance, it is a place of ordinary things. Letters posted. Parcels sent. Messages passing from one hand to another. A building built for connection.
But in the spring of 1916, it became something more.
On Easter Monday, as the city moved through what seemed like another ordinary day, a small group of men and women stepped forward and changed the course of Irish history. They chose this place — solid, central, unshaken — and from its steps, the Proclamation of the Republic was read aloud.
The GPO became their headquarters. Inside its walls, decisions were made not just for a moment, but for a nation yet to be born.
Outside, the city stirred with confusion, fear, and disbelief. Inside, there was resolve.
The columns you see here — strong and unyielding — stood through it all. Through the smoke, the gunfire, the fire that would leave the building in ruins. They remain today as they were then: witnesses.
The GPO is not just stone and structure. It is memory.
It is the echo of voices raised in hope.
It is the courage of those who stood when standing meant everything.
It is the quiet reminder that even the most ordinary places can become extraordinary.
Today, people pass by without a second thought — meeting friends, catching buses, going about their lives. And maybe that is its greatest legacy.
Because the GPO was never meant to stand apart from the people.
It was always meant to belong to them