Witness the revival of medieval iron smelting and forging craftsmanship at the upcoming Caherconnell International Furnace Festival in the Burren’s historic setting.
Over 50 skilled blacksmiths and traditional iron smelters from across Ireland, the UK, Europe and the USA are set to descend on the Burren in Co. Clare to partake in a demonstration of medieval iron smelting and forging on the weekend of 26 and 27 August.
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Second annual Caherconnell International Furnace Festival
This is the second annual Caherconnell International Furnace Festival. The family-fun weekend will see the 10th-century Caherconnell stone fort transformed into an open-air museum, where the intricate process of iron smelting will unfold on-site.
Iron is derived from iron ore, which is particularly abundant in Irish bogs. To extract the iron, the ore is smelted with charcoal in a furnace (a clay shaft). The outcome is a very dense, red hot lump called an iron “bloom”. The bloom is then forged into a bar, which can be forged into any object.
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Between 500 BC and 1500 AD, all iron and steel objects made in Ireland were produced from bloomery iron. This type of iron was used to fashion various objects and tools for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes while also serving as the primary material for weapons like swords, battle axes and arrowheads.
Festival-goers can witness the smelted iron being forged into replicas of the artefacts recovered during excavations of Caherconnell stone fort, including medieval arrowheads, knives and belt buckles.
Caherconnell fort, an early medieval settlement or “cashel”, was occupied from the 10th to 16th centuries. Historical records and archaeological discoveries suggest it was a royal site. Fully excavated under the supervision of Dr Michelle Comber of NUI Galway, the finds included an iron smelting furnace, metalworking hearths and an array of iron objects.
Throughout the festival, a team of experts will narrate the demonstrations, weaving together historical context, technical insights and anecdotes that bring to life the artistry of the ancient craft of ironworking. The festival also offers complimentary guided tours.
Adding to the excitement, festival attendees are invited to engage in hands-on learning opportunities and actively join the ironworking processes by enrolling in the festival school.
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For those aspiring to be part of a smelting team and learn how iron ore is transformed into bloomery iron, the festival offers introductory courses designed to impart these skills. The different smelting teams will conduct various experiments.
Esteemed Danish iron smelter and blacksmith Jens Jørgen Olesen, widely acknowledged as one of Europe’s foremost bloomery iron smelters, will lead two one-day workshops. During these immersive sessions, aspiring artisans will have the unique opportunity to learn under his tutelage and acquire the essential skills to make their own iron.
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Participants of the festival school also have the opportunity to learn traditional blacksmithing techniques in the designated forging zone. Here, experienced blacksmiths will transform the iron into both functional items and objects of art.
Adding to Sunday’s lineup, festival-goers will be treated to a presentation by celebrated heritage blacksmith Rowan Taylor. Taylor’s expertise will be on display as he forges a replica of a rare Iron Age axe found in Lough Mourne, Co. Antrim, fashioning it from freshly smelted bloomery iron.
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Irish Iron Heritage Foundation
The festival is organized by the Irish Iron Heritage Foundation. Dr Paul Rondelez, an archaeologist specializing in Irish smelting and a foundation member, shared his thoughts:
“We are very excited to bring this unique festival back to Caherconnell, where evidence of iron smelting dating back more than 1,000 years has been uncovered in recent years.
Last year’s event was a huge success, and we are looking forward to once again demonstrating the vital role played by iron in medieval Ireland from everyday implements and tools to warfare and building.”
The festival is funded by the Heritage Council, the Geological Survey of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Clare County Council, with the support of the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
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Dr Eamon Doyle, a geologist with the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, noted that one of the festival’s main highlights is its open-air museum, where the story of iron in Ireland comes to life.
“We want to acknowledge Ireland’s smelting heritage but also reflect how many of the ancient practices engaged in iron making continue to this day. The replacement of wrought iron with mild steel and a general change in the global economy during the 20th century led to significant changes in Irish blacksmithing.
To this day, however, blacksmiths still work in Ireland, from the farriers looking after the horse stock in the country to those hand-forging gates. You can meet many of these skilled Irish blacksmiths at the Caherconnell International Furnace Festival.”
Book your tickets
If you’re keen to delve deeper into the history of iron in Ireland, pop along to the Caherconnell International Furnace Festival and visit the open-air museum or take a free guided tour.
Nestled in the Burren region of Co. Clare, Caherconnell fort is on the R480 route connecting Leamaneh to Ballyvaughan and just 1km from the famous Poulnabrone portal tomb.
Given the limited visitor capacity at Caherconnell stone fort, as well as for the festival school and workshops, it is advisable to pre-book your tickets for the upcoming festival. For more information, visit the Furnace Festival website.
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If you attended the inaugural Caherconnell International Furnace Festival, please share your thoughts about the event in the comment section below!
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