Ireland’s first internationally-recognised blacksmith programme is in Limerick

THE BIGGEST job of blacksmiths is not the intricate skill of bending metal to your will but it is educating others, according to Eric O’Neill.

“We need to firstly let the public know we still exist,” believes the artist blacksmith and tutor from Cappamore.

Eric is a man of his word. Under his mentorship, the seven forges at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of FET, Cappamore Campus continues to be an inspiration to anyone interested in the area of blacksmithing.

It ranges from learners creating artistic sculptures, bespoke pieces of jewellery or furniture, more functional pieces or carrying out heritage conservation work.

An article by Eric entitled Europe’s Most Westerly Forge School was also published in an international blacksmithing publication this summer.

The ancient art of blacksmithing has been enjoying a revival in Ireland over the last number of years and this is certainly evident with another group of blacksmiths graduating at Ireland’s only City and Guilds certified training course, in Cappamore.

Learners of all experience levels, from complete beginners to more experienced smiths have been benefiting from taking on the skills and techniques offered at the blacksmithing and ironcraft skills course.

It all started for Eric in 2011 when he finished his training in Hereford, England.

“I approached the forerunner of the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, County Limerick VEC, and was lucky enough to meet a manager called Eimear Brophy who was supportive and had a clear vision for the programme. At that time, a spare engineering classroom became available at a vocational school in Cappamore.

“Its then principal, Michael O’Connor, whose grandfather was a blacksmith / farrier, was helpful in getting the project started. I built some forges and made some tooling to get the introduction to forging class underway. We were lucky enough to have great interest in the subject and evening programmes were always booked out in advance.”

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Year-upon-year, programmes were filled with great feedback from the learners who signed up for other modules developed to expand their offering and forging skills.

“Other longer-term programmes got involved such as Skills for Work. These began with an introduction to forging programme, followed by tool making and then we went on to forge some decorative projects. A bench for John ‘The Bull’ Hayes, who had recently retired from international rugby, was one such project. A bench for a man who rarely if ever sat on the bench while he was an international rugby player,” smile Eric. The bench is one of many unique pieces that Eric has created.

He said Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training at  Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board became a great champion of the forge and everything they were doing.

“He helped to bring our capital infrastructure at the campus and forge facility to the level that we are all proud of. In 2015, we decided to seek formal accreditation at our College of FET, Cappamore Campus and developed an accredited programme. City and Guilds management met with us on site and, after our discussions, were eager to support us. So, Ireland’s first internationally-recognised blacksmith training programme began.”

Eric said they are going from strength to strength ever since with their highest numbers to date this year with 12 out of 12 learners passing their City & Guilds exams. They also had their busiest year with part-time classes and have engaged with an educational programme on the appreciation and care of historical ironwork with Limerick Civic Trust as a partner.

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Deirdre McGuinness, this year’s only female blacksmith, has a unique perspective as the daughter of well-known Clare blacksmith Conn McGuiness.

Conn’s mentor was Paul Allen, a world-renowned blacksmith, who was also Eric’s mentor. Conn sadly passed away a few years ago but Deirdre is proudly following in her father’s footsteps and hopes to get the family forge up and running again soon.

Another who received a City and Guilds accreditation this year is Richard Fontes, an established blacksmith who was looking to improve his forging skills and techniques during the course.

He runs the Fox Fire Forge in Abbeyfeale, where he creates jewellery, art and hand-crafted fire-side equipment. Richard is also part of the well-known Feale Crafters, a community group of independent artists from the locality who run a popular market in Abbeyfeale every second Saturday.

Fellow graduate, Reece Saul Foster took over the 270 year-old Lyons Forge in Mountshannon, Co Clare, four months ago and is currently operating his business Saul Forged from there.

He is now working on repairing the forge and is the first blacksmith to do so in over 100 years. Reece was recently commissioned to do a large project for a private art dealer and is grateful to Eric for showing him the skills he needed to help his business excel.

Eric says for far too long Ireland’s blacksmith training was non-existent, unless you were lucky enough to work in a forge where the owner had the time and skill to train you. Now, thanks to him and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, it is under one roof in Cappamore.

As a tutor of blacksmithing, Eric says to all his students, their biggest job as smiths is educating others.

“We need to firstly let the public know we still exist, what type of work we do and where we can be found. Blacksmiths everywhere are familiar with this story, we need more people to explore, enjoy and help develop our craft and drive it further on its continuing upwards spiral.”

For more details on blacksmithing at the College of FET, Cappamore Campus, click here.