BLACKSMITHING

As would be expected from a district so steeped in rural traditions one of the focal points of village life throughout the ages has been the village forge. Unfortunately the images of a hooped fire of fine slack coal being maintained by the pumping of bellows or the smith at bent over the anvil hammering the heated iron have been lost to us but there are those who recall the smokey forge with fondness.

Blacksmithing or farriery dates back to the Bronze Age and lasted so long as horses were the principal source of power for rural work. Prior to the advent of iron horses were shod with crude cloth sandals, which did little to protect the horses' feet.

An iron shoe is made from a length of iron bar varying in both length and thickness according to the size of the horse. Holding the iron bar between tongs the smith would heat the bar in the fire until it was red hot and soft. Moving to the anvil the smith hammered the bar into a shape to fit the horse's hoof. A tool known as a fuller was used to create the groove around the shoes through which the nails were driven. The shoe was then attached to the hoof of the horse.

Mr. Samuel Hughes who worked as a blacksmith with Mr. Sandy McConnell gave the following account.

LOCAL BLACKSMITHS
P Rooney Whitecross 1920-1981
F Rooney Whitecross Early 1900's
J Rooney Whitecross 1800's
P O'Rourke Whitecross Early 1900's
W McMordie Aughnagurgan 1924-1981
R McMordie Aughnagurgan 1920's-1981
J McMordie Redrock & Collone 1925-1981
J McAllister Hamiltonsbawn 1945-1981
B Brennan Newtownhamilton 1945-1981
A Brennan Newtownhamilton Early 1900's
C Brennan Newtownhamilon 1800's
J Brennan Newtownhamilton Early 1900's
T Ferris Glenanne 1920's-1970's
S Patterson Markethill 1904-1960
J McConnell Markethill Early 1900's
C McConnell Redrock Early 1900's
T McConnell Redrock 1800's
S McConnell Mowhan Early 1900's
W Turner Eleven Lane Ends 1800's
J Clarke Eleven Lane Ends 1880-1943
J Brown Eleven Lane Ends 1940-1966
J Lutton Ballygorman Early 1900's
P McSherry Poyntzpass 1940's-1970's
E Loughlin Poyntzpass 1940's-1970's
B Graham Tyrones Ditches 1940-1960
J Mone Keady Early 1900's
P Mone Keady 1930's-1950's
J Rice Keady Early 1900's
W Archer Annvale Early 1900's
J Gamble Aughnagurgan Early 1900's
W Dalzell Carnagh Early 1900's
Toal Forkhill Early 1900's
J White Divernagh Early 1900's
Ross Armagh Early 1900's
Callaghan Armagh Early 1900's
Star Armagh Early 1900's
Lenard Armagh Early 1900's
Mackle Armagh Early 1900's
Ross Armagh Grange Early 1900's
A Moore Loughgall Early 1900's
Laverty Brothers Moy Late 1900's

REFERENCES
Information courtesy of the History Department, Markethill High School.


Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing.