School: Askamore (roll number 15675)

Location:
Askamore, Co. Wexford
Teacher:
Margaret McGrath
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0895, Page 077

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0895, Page 077

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  1. XML School: Askamore
  2. XML Page 077
  3. XML “The Local Forge”

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  1. We have three forges in this parish. Mr Corcoran's forge is situated in the townland of Brideswell and is near the road. Mr Caulfield's is situated in Kiltiliahane, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford. this is also on the side of the road. Mr Kehoe's is in the townland of Bolinrush, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford. Their people have been smiths for many years.
    The forge is a fair sized house, roofed with slates, the door is just the ordinary type. In each forge we have one fire-place. The bellows is oval shaped mounted between two uprights connected on top with a cross piece from which the pole to mount the bellows is fixed. They are not made locally. The smith works upon an anvil, he also has a vice, a large hammer called a sledge, a smaller hammer, and tongs, he has several swadges to shape out the iron. He has also a shoeing outfit : hammer, pincers, knife, and rasps.
    He shoes asses and horses. He makes harrows, and shoes wheels. The shoeing of the wheels is done in the open air, the wheel is placed on a large circular stone. The tyre is heated and pulled on with a special tool called a "dog." They are afterwards cooled in the stream.
    The water in which the smith cools his his iron, is a good cure for sore feet, and for a horses sore breast.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
          1. smithing (~2,389)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Rosaleen Moore
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Askamore, Co. Wexford