Connemara Marble Penal Rosary

A beautiful handmade Connemara Marble Penal Rosary with a bronze Penal Cross, Celtic Money Ring and one decade of beautiful Connemara Marble beads. Made from genuine Connemara Marble the colouring of Connemara Marble varies from creamy pale green to shades of sage and moss and this rosary beads displays such a range.

These Connemara Marble Penal Rosary beads are heirloom quality Irish Gifts, designed and handmade by Mary Varilly, jewellery designer, Dublin.

Comes with a black pouch and in a lovely gift box.

Irish Penal Rosary

The Irish Penal Rosary (An Paidrín Beag) is unique to Ireland. Dating back to penal times when the Catholic religion was outlawed in Ireland when it was forbidden to have religious objects. A one-decade Penal Rosary was concealed in the hand or up a sleeve. This allowed Catholics to pray without being detected. The ring of the Rosary Beads was moved from thumb to finger to finger to keep track of the decades prayed. This Penal Cross is replicated from an original dating to c.1722. The characteristic short-arms were developed to due to the tendency of the standard long armed cross to break off.

Connemara Marble

Connemara Marble is Ireland’s national gemstone and is a traditional gift of friendship. This Marble is one of the rarest marbles in the world and is found exclusively in the West of Ireland. Connemara Marble is the world’s finest green marble varying in colour from creamy pale green to shades of sage and moss.

Beautiful Connemara Marble Penal Rosary, handmade by Mary Varilly, County Dublin, Ireland.

View other gifts by Mary Varilly currently in stock at Totally Irish Gifts