LIMERICK and Clare Education and Training Board is offering a taster workshop in blacksmithing at its College of Further Education and Training Cappamore Campus.
The campus is an ETB centre of excellence in blacksmithing, and the introductory workshop on April 11 will introduce you to all the fundamental skills involved. It will also help you explore the various pathways of progression, whether that’s artist blacksmithing, traditional blacksmithing or farriery.
This fully-funded workshop will take place over four days, featuring four-hour sessions and will help you discover if blacksmithing is suited to you, including all the physical aspects. The man tasked with running this exciting introductory workshop is artist and blacksmith Eric O’Neill, who has worked with steel in various forms for the past 25 years.
The taster programme offers a window into the forge, where you’ll learn how to use forge hearths, specialist blacksmith tools and forge metal. On completing this workshop, there is an opportunity to progress to the City and Guilds one-year full-time programme, the only accredited blacksmithing programme in Ireland. It will also allow you to build your skills, abilities and confidence by trying something different.
For more information on this programme or to apply for a place in the workshop, https://collegeoffet.ie/blacksmithing/
