The Centre for Traditional Skills.
WEEKEND COURSES
SUMMER 2004
THE CENTRE FOR TRADITIONAL SKILLS
THE OLD RAILWAY STATION
LISMORE, CO.WATERFORD
PHONE / FAX 058 53196
Website
Courses start at 9.30 am and finish at 5.00 pm. Morning coffee and tea, lunch and all craft materials are included in the course fee. Many fill up quickly so please book as early as you can. If you want further information contact John O’Neill at the above address.
“A GIFT FROM THE PAST “
The Old Railway Station in Lismore is home to the Centre for Traditional Skills, a place dedicated to the conservation and revival of age old crafts and skills. The magnificent stone built goods shed is busy again with a working forge, workshops for woodturning, country carpentry, coopering, toolmaking and tinsmithing.
“The generous and refreshing way in which the courses were delivered made them all the more enjoyable.” Our courses are intensive and challenging but are structured so that any one can take part, whether beginner or expert.
“I learned much, ate like royalty and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.” The atmosphere at the centre is relaxed and friendly. Lunch is served in the open air when weather permits and students have time to unwind and get to know each other.
“My friends just can’t believe I made this beautiful chair, thanks again.” Most of our courses involve making and taking home a finished item, the value of which is often greater than the cost of the weekend.
CRAFT ARCHAEOLOGY
Experience how people lived and worked in ancient times. No knowledge of metalwork, woodwork or pottery is required, just enthusiasm and an enquiring mind.
THE CELTIC ROUND HOUSE.
For thousands of years Celtic peoples lived in roundhouses cleverly constructed from wooden poles, hazel wattles, clay and straw. Join us to build the whole structure in two days.
A small roundhouse makes a wonderful garden feature, playhouse or shed. A larger one makes a useful workshop, guest accommodation or even a holiday home!
July 17th & 18th. all inclusive fee €150
THE BRONZE AGE AXE.
Under expert supervision, cast your very own Bronze Age axe, polish it, decorate it, fit a wooden haft and use it to help reconstruct a Bronze Age trackway.
July 31st & Aug 1st all inclusive fee €150
PREHISTORIC POTS
Since the Stone Age, clay pots have been not only a vital household utensil, but a source of artistic expression. Decorated pots were an important part of everyday life, ritual and burial rites. Ceramic artist, Jane Jermyn will help you to explore this theme and create at least two beautiful prehistoric pots to take home and treasure..
August 28th & 29th all inclusive fee €150
THE IRON AGE BLADESMITH.
Beginning with only clay and willow we will construct a bloomery furnace, make charcoal and smelt iron ore. Using a pit forge and stone anvil , we will make authentic iron spearheads,tools and each person will forge a steel knife with an antler handle to take home.
September 18th & 19th.. all inclusive fee €150
IRISH COUNTRY CARPENTRY
19th century carpenters in Ireland made everyday household furniture such as dressers, settles, tables, chairs and chests which were timelessly beautiful and are now valuable collectors’ items. Our courses will explain the simple but ingenious methods they used and with only a few hand tools you will be turning old floorboards into family heirlooms.
THE HANGING DRESSER.
Just like the genuine article, our hanging dressers are crafted with traditional tools such as hand saws, wooden planes and scratch stocks. There are six different designs, copied from the Irish Country Furniture Collection at JohnstownCastle in CountyWexford. They range from easy to quite difficult so this course will suit everyone from beginner to expert. You will take home a finished piece of furniture you can be proud of and which would cost more than the price of the course!
July 3rd & 4th. all inclusive fee €150
THE PINE SETTLE.
Real old Irish settles are virtually unobtainable now at any price. They are still practical seating for the kitchen or hall. Build your own in two days of enjoyable woodwork. Choose the length to suit your home and it will pack flat for transport.
August 7th & 8th. all inclusive fee €170
THE HEDGE CHAIR.
In her excellent book, ”Irish Country Furniture 1700-1950” Claudia Kinmonth describes the hedge chair as a slab seated chair, often made by a hedge carpenter or householder, from local timbers. The legs and back are fixed into the seat with unconcealed through wedged joints. These were once common in rural homes but have now become rare and valuable. During this intensive course you will shape the hardwood seat and shave the legs and back. With the help of our resident chair maker you will assemble a hedge chair to take home and enjoy.
September 11th & 12th. all inclusive fee €150
COURSES FOR GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
We can arrange courses specifically tailored to the needs of groups and organizations. Suitable for two to ten people, subjects include carpentry, rustic furniture, coopering, woodturning, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, thatching, stonework and various craft archaeology subjects. For more information contact John O’Neill by phone or email.
TRADITIONAL WOODTURNING.
An ideal introduction to the craft of woodturning, the foot operated pole lathe is easier and safer to use than the modern electric lathe. The basics can be mastered quickly and you can choose from over thirty simple projects to make and take home.
August 21st & 22nd. all inclusive fee €150
THE CRAFT OF THE COOPER.
Featured in the recently published “Ireland’s Traditional Crafts”, our white cooper, John O’Neill, will reveal the secrets of how to make watertight tubs and butter churns and will help you complete a piggin ( an old fashioned bucket).
August 28th & 29th. all inclusive fee €150
RUSTIC FURNITURE.
Chairs, tables and even beds, fashioned from natural branches, have great appeal in the garden and in the home. On our rustic weekend you will learn all the techniques of this enjoyable craft. Each person will make a garden chair and take home the skills to make many more designs.
June 19th & 20th.. all inclusive fee €160
BASKETMAKING.
Our ever popular course will be taught by Barbara Kelly, a professional basketmaker and inspirational teacher. The cost of materials is included and each student will weave two finished baskets. There will be a tour of our sally garden and advice on growing your own willow.
July 31st & Aug 1st. all inclusive fee €160
THE BLACKSMITH & WROUGHT IRON.
This is an rare opportunity to learn the workings of the blacksmith’s hearth, how to forge traditional ornaments, how to punch, rivet and fire weld Drawing inspiration from 19th century gates, each student will make a forge poker and an ornate candle sconce. Plans for a simple forge will be supplied.
June 26th & 27th. all inclusive fee €160
BUILDING IN STONE.
Whether you are interested in a career in stone work or just want to build and repair your own walls, this intensive course will provide you with the basic skills. With an expert to show you how, you will build a stone wall complete with foundations, through stones and coping. You will learn how to build stone piers, shape cornerstones and clad block walls with stone.
June 12th & 13th. all inclusive fee €180
July 24th & 25th .
Sept 4th & 5th.
BOOKING FORM
Name …………………………………………..
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I wish to book for the following course/s…
DateCourse Title No. of places
June 12 & 13Building in Stone
June 19 & 20Rustic furniture
June 26& 27Blacksmithing
July 3 & 4Hanging Dresser
July 17& 18Celtic Roundhouse
July 24 & 25Building in Stone
July 31 & 1Basketmaking
July 31 & 1Bronze Age axe
Aug 7 & 8Pine Settle
Aug 21 & 22Woodturning
Aug 28 & 29Coopering
Aug 28 & 29Prehistoric pots
Sept 4 & 5Building in Stone
Sept 11 &12Hedge chair
Sept 18 & 19Iron Age Bladesmith
If booking by email do not send your credit card details. We will respond to your message and confirm that a place is available. You can then send the non refundable deposit of 50 euro by post. The balance can be paid on the morning of the course.
There is a range of accommodation locally to suit all budgets; family run B&B, hotels and luxury country houses.
Please send me details. Tick
You can camp at the station free of charge. Phone to arrange.