Limerick blacksmith struck while iron was hot to restore historic gate smashed in car crash

AFTER a unique gate outside a place of learning was badly damaged there was only one man to go at it hammer and tongs - renowned Limerick artist blacksmith Eric O’Neill.

A car crashed into the art deco-inspired gate 18 months ago. It is situated outside the College of FET Cappamore Campus, an east Limerick campus of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. 

Eric, who has been instrumental in the formation of the Blacksmithing Centre of Excellence in the college, said both sides of the gate were damaged.

“One side bore most of the impact of the car. This side was bent in all directions with pieces knocked off the gate,” said Eric.

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It wasn’t a case of going into a local farm supplier shop, buying a new one and erecting it.

“This gate is unique, it is designed for its specific location, and mirrors the art deco design of the building it adorns.

“It reflects a period in Irish history, where the English designers and architects moved out and the Irish moved in. They had a chance to bring their ideas and designs to realisation, a new page was turned in Irish history, and specifically in our built heritage,” explained Eric.

It took him and his son Shane around 80 hours to fix, paint and rehang the gate. They were assisted by the Hanly Brothers to transport it.

“It is important for the repair to be documented and shared. The gate represents a new State and a prestigious development for Cappamore. It was a statement by an Irish architectural firm. Gate construction was changing from traditional blacksmithing methods to other more modern means. We can see engineering joinery, along with forged joinery in this gate. It makes it a very interesting piece of historical and artistic merit,” said Eric.

It is fitting that future students of the College of FET Cappamore Campus will see the beautiful piece of craftsmanship on their way into the home of blacksmithing education in Ireland.

Blacksmithing was once seen as a trade of the past but Eric has helped spearhead a revival in Cappamore. There are a number of upcoming one-day City & Guilds taster courses that will introduce  learners to their forge faculty, Ireland’s only accredited blacksmithing training forge.

For more info, visit, collegeoffet.ie/blacksmithing