School: Cabra, Kingscourt
- Location:
- Cabra, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Violet Irwin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1008, Page 205
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- XML School: Cabra, Kingscourt
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- XML “The Local Forge”
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- In this parish there are four forges; three of which are situated in the town and one in the country. Three of these forges are run by smiths, whose fathers also followed the occupation. These forges have been run by the same families for 60 or 70 years in succession.
The one country forge in this parish is situated in the townland of Carrickleck, along side a road, about one hundred yards from a cross roads.
Forges are usually about twenty feet square. The roof is slated or covered with zinc iron. There is only one fireplace and the bellows is the usual kind. Most of the work is done indoors. Horses are shod and farming implements repaired. Cart wheels are always shod in the open air.
The forge is always a great centre for gossip. Many people gather there in the evening and tell stories, while the smith hammers out his horse shoes. The smith usually knows all about horses and many farmers send for him when anything goes wrong.
The implements a smith uses are - an anvil, a hammer, a sledge, plyers, and a bellows.
- Collector
- Jim Sherriff
- Gender
- Male
