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Frank Ryan, from Abbey Studios, had known Dillon, Campbell and Armstrong socially from
holidaying in Roundstone. Following Campbell’s prize, Ryan asked Campbell to join the
Abbey Stained Glass Studio to gain an understanding of stained glass from craftsmen George
Walsh, William Earley and Manus Walsh. In September 1963, Campbell completed his first
stained-glass design, ‘The Sower Sowing the Seed’, (fig.257) in St Colmans Tierneevan, Gort,
Co. Galway. Several commissions followed: the Baptistery window (fig.172) in the Star of the
Sea Church, Desertegney, on the Inishowen Peninsula, designed by Liam McCormick 1964;
the three rose windows for the Galway Cathedral, 1965;
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St Dominican’s Athy, 1965;
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(figs.170 and 171) St Mary’s Tallaght; and the New Cathedral, Mutari, South Africa.
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Despite a disagreement between Campbell and the Bishop of Galway over his designs, the commission was
completed in 1965.
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Abstract window scheme and Stations of the Cross.
fig.173: George Walsh and Willie Earley, 1960’s
fig.174: George Campbell and George Walsh
fig.175: Frank Ryan and George Campbell in St.
Dominict’s Athy, 1965
fig.176: Detail, St. Dominic’s Athy, 1965