- Bookbinding in Dublin [1981] I spend several years in the 80s as an amateur book-binder. I learned that every part of the book contributes to its engineering and function. The fact that they make a hand-bound book a thing of beauty is a bonus.
- I could never get my knife sharp enough for book-binding. Nor my scythe neither. Here's a bunch of Fermanagh farmers who work a sandstone quarry [1980] to produce whetstones, millstones and other stone-craft. [Thanks Russ!]
- A piece across the country near Carrickmacross Co. Monaghan, where they make drain-pipes by hand [1983]. Jakers, you can see why everyone bought into Wavin plastic pipes: cheaper, lighter, less brittle, easier to cut.
- Making carriages, carts and wheels in Enniscorthy [1978]: just down the road from us. Despite the optimistic voice-over 40 years ago. Breen's is now closed but some of its history is captured on film.
- Enniscorthy is where I catch the bus to Dublin. About 3km out of town is Carley's Bridge across the River Urrin. There were a lot of potteries along the stream-bed and a lot of mills but, in contrast to the quarry in Fermanagh and the shale clay in Carrickmacross, the quality clay is long since exhausted. Carley's Bridge Pottery [1980] is still there, working on important material. If you like buff young men doing some heavy lifting then skip to minute 6. I've collected the work of other potters.
Friday 17 March 2017
The crafty Irish
For a Kelly green St Patrick's Day: a series of documentaries about Irish crafts[wo]men. Index. It's amazing to moderns how many of these men go to work wearing a tie! I don't wear a tie to work and I have a desk job.
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