This piece is part of the “Praising The Dead” exhibition.
Praising the Dead’ is currently showing in Culturlann Belfast. It’s a gorgeous group exhibition by Illustrators Ireland members. The theme is bringing BACK to life iconic figures, objects and ideas from Irish history through illustration.
I chose to illustrate the Guinness Cooper. A cooper at Guinness was the craftsperson responsible for making and maintaining the wooden casks that held and transported Guinness stout. These skilled artisans were highly respected and vital to the brewery.
My Dad, both Grandads and two Great Grandads were all Guinness coopers.
They all worked at the world-famous brewery off James’ Street in Dublin. I remember as a kid, going with my mam in the car to pick up my Dad from work and the strong smell of hops in the air. He worked for Guinness from about age 12 until he retired.
My Dad left school at primary level and because of the family connection, he joined the trade of coopering. Coopering was a “closed” trade – it was passed down from generation to generation within the same family. A cooper apprenticeship took between 5 to 7 years, learning to use very specific tools. Casks were created using staves and metal hoops with no adhesives – a highly skilled task.
Today the work of the cooper is not required any more. That trade vanished when metal casks became the norm for Guinness distribution. There are a few artisan breweries who use wooden casks around the world, but it’s rare.
The Praising the Dead exhibition will be on display from 8 May to 13 June 2025 in Belfast at the Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, 216 Falls Rd, Belfast BT12 6AH
