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School: Cléireacháin, Cluain Meala

Location:
Ballyclerahan, Co. Tipperary
Teacher:
James Bates
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0567, Page 169

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0567, Page 169

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  1. XML School: Cléireacháin, Cluain Meala
  2. XML Page 169
  3. XML “The Local Forge”

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  1. The Local Forge

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    3 Forges in the parish. Smyths - Michael Perkins, Patrick Lafford, and James Smyth. These people's forefathers have been smyths for over 100 yrs. Situated beside the road. Roofs slated, timber windows. One fireplace in each, raised up from the floor. Bellows made of leather and iron. Not made locally. Implements - hammers, rasps, anvils, tongs, sledges, punches, shovels, knives, vices. Houses, mules, ponies, jennets and asses shod. Only farm implements made are socks of ploughs, pins for harrows and rakes, mostly repairs to farm implements. Wheels are bound in the open. Fire lit in the forge yard.
    Forge water is a cure for warts. If the sparks fly towards a person, it is said that money is coming to him. The 3rd generation of blacksmiths can cure rickets in children. The child is put on the anvil "Innnin Ceartán" and after that it gets cured. William Reidy, blacksmith, aged 75 years living in Moorestown, Cahir has this privilege still and his father before him had the same named Michael Reidy.
    Ruins of forges at Ballinlough, Coleman and Giantsgrave, Clonmel. Smiths named Smyth occupied the former and Keating's the latter. These latter used to have 3 fires working and 3 smiths engaged in shoeing, making ploughs and binding wheels. "Logs" (?) are used in the binding of wheels. Long ago these forges were the centre of story telling. The people used to be there all day, waiting for repairs to be done to their ploughs, during the Russian War, when tillage was in vogue, and whiled away the time by story-telling.
    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
    Informant
    William Ahearne
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    70
    Occupation
    Farmer
    Address
    Ballyveelish South, Co. Tipperary
    Informant
    Mary Ahearne
    Relation
    Grandparent
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    88
    Address
    Ballyveelish South, Co. Tipperary
    Informant
    Denis Ahearne
    Relation
    Parent
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    70
    Address
    Ballyveelish South, Co. Tipperary
    Informant
    Hanora Ahearne
    Relation
    Parent
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    72
    Address
    Ballyveelish South, Co. Tipperary