Christmas Kells

Christmas Kells are hand-painted ornaments inspired by the Book of Kells & Celtic art. Old-world craftsmanship reborn for today’s Christmas.

Each piece is painted by Irish-American artist Mark O’Brien on hand-blown glass from Bethlehem.

06/01/2026

In Irish mythology, Enbarr was the magical white horse of Manannán mac Lir, Lord of the Sea. Able to travel effortlessly across both land and water, Enbarr carried heroes beyond the boundaries of the known world.

This piece of Celtic Art Glass depicts Enbarr emerging from the waves while Manannán watches over the sea. The imagery is painted freehand on hand-blown glass crafted in Bethlehem, Palestine, making each work unique.

05/24/2026

The Voyage of St. Brendan

Inspired by the legendary Irish voyager who sailed into the unknown guided only by faith, stars, and the sea.

Illuminated Celtic imagery hand-painted in enamel on traditional hand-blown Palestinian glass from Bethlehem.

05/22/2026

Long before Christmas Kells, Alaska awakened something deeply artistic in me — the scale of the wilderness, the silence, the colors, the light. Looking back, this piece feels like an early chapter in the creative journey that would eventually lead me toward illuminated art and Celtic imagery.

In the fall of 1987, inspired by the Denali skyline, I hand-painted this mailbox. Looking back, I can still see the beginnings of the artistic path I’m on today: storytelling through paint, reverence for nature, and the desire to transform ordinary objects into something memorable.

Alaska never really leaves you.

04/30/2026

Long before Christmas Kells, Alaska honed my artistic spirit.

Although I left Alaska in 1986, I brought with me a lasting passion for the powerful art of the Pacific Northwest Coast—especially the bold design and storytelling that inspired me so deeply.

In 1991 living in Northern Virginia, that influence was still alive in my work. This hand-painted mailbox, created as a gift for a friend, was one of many early pieces where I transformed everyday objects into art.

Looking back, I can see how those Alaskan years continued to guide me—long before glass became my canvas.

From Alaska… to the East Coast… to Christmas Kells.

— Mark O’Brien

04/01/2026

Long before Christmas Kells, I was always creating.
Clay was just one medium—I painted murals, mailboxes, anything that became a surface. This piece, “Kenny,” was sculpted in the spring of 1987 as a model for a mask that was never produced.
Looking back, I can see the same impulse at work—shaping something by hand, trying to give form to what’s felt but not easily said.

03/15/2026

The new Christmas Kells website is now live.

Inspired by the illuminated pages of the Book of Kells, these hand-painted glass ornaments bring ancient Celtic imagery into the present.

The site shares the story behind the work, the inspiration from the manuscript, and the creative process.

www.christmaskells.com

03/01/2026

The Saints Collection.
Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid — two enduring lights of Ireland.
Individually hand-painted on hand-blown glass.
Discover the collection at: christmasKells.shop

02/24/2026

Coming soon for St. Patricks' Day- Irish Saints. Browse the entire collection of the sacred and folklore at: https://christmaskells.shop/

Address

Pocomoke City, MD

Website

https://christmaskells.shop/

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