School: Lacken (B.), Cill Mhichíl (roll number 13826)

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1. The Blacksmith and his Forge

   

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   There were more forges in this parish in olden times than there are now. Those forges were owned by the Waltons, Sullivans, Kellys, Learys, Egans and one owned by the Gabha Ruadh. There were two in Clonigulane, one in Cahermurphy, and one in Cahercanivan and about four in the village. Those forges were covered with either felt or thatch.
   There was a high wide door in each forge and a large window. There was always a horse-shoe nailed on the door. This was a sign of a forge, Another sign was to see, ploughs, harrows, and machines outside the forge.
   the implements that the blacksmith uses ae the bellows, anvil, hammer and sledge, pinches, files, chisels, The bellows are made of leather with a handle on one end of it and when the blacksmith works the handle up and down it blows the fire and reddens it well. The anvil is a block of iron left on a large block of wood, and it is pointed at one end of it for turning the iron.
   The blacksmith makes gates, and shoes the horses and asses and he puts bands on wheels. There is a small little concrete hole of water convenient to the forge, it is about the size of the block of a wheel and it is here the blacksmith works when he is putting a band on the wheel. long ago the blacksmith made sleáns, shovels, spades, forks, ploughs, and he tackled scythes, but these are not made by him now. The Cránín was a

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
            1. smithing (~2,389)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Seán Fitzpatrick

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Kilmihil, Co. Clare

   Informant

   Jack Clancy

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Kilmihil, Co. Clare