Canary
Tealight Holders.

Canaries played an important role in pit safety. They were able to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. They would stop singing or start acting in a peculiar fashion. When this happened the miners and rescue teams knew that they needed to retreat.

Local ceramic artist Denise O’Sullivan was commissioned to create a limited edition canary tea light holder for people to put in their windows to light the dark nights. The tea light holder boxes also contained kits for people to make their own clay canaries.

Denise O’Sullivan —
‘My grandad was a miner. Nanna and grandad always had a canary at home, and they were always named ‘Joey’. My nan loved the bright yellow colours always calling him a ‘beautiful boy’ and they talked and sang all day. My nan always told me how much grandad loved them and that they had ‘saved many lives in the pits’.