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Furnace Festival 2018
This will be the 3rd Furnace Festival organized by the Sliabh Aughty Furnace Project. The idea behind the Project is to raise awareness about the 17th and 18th century iron industry in the area.
This year's Festival will focus on producing iron from local ore using bloomery furnaces. These are clay shaft and directly produce wrought or forgeable iron. Going well, even steel can be made. We will be using local ores, fuel (charcoal) and clay.
Bloomery iron was the only kind of iron made in Ireland for over a thousand years, from the 6th century BC until the 16th century AD. The Festival aims at re-introducing the production of this material into Ireland. The smelting itself is spectacular and highly educational with links to history, geology, woodland management and many more. The bloomery iron is a unique product from which Irish blacksmiths can make a multitude of objects (‘Irish Iron’).
This year's Festival will focus on producing iron from local ore using bloomery furnaces. These are clay shaft and directly produce wrought or forgeable iron. Going well, even steel can be made. We will be using local ores, fuel (charcoal) and clay.
Bloomery iron was the only kind of iron made in Ireland for over a thousand years, from the 6th century BC until the 16th century AD. The Festival aims at re-introducing the production of this material into Ireland. The smelting itself is spectacular and highly educational with links to history, geology, woodland management and many more. The bloomery iron is a unique product from which Irish blacksmiths can make a multitude of objects (‘Irish Iron’).
WhereWoodford, Co. Galway (in the field next to the ‘Bay’, the reservoir built to power the 17th and 18th century blast furnace of Woodford)
Coordinates: 53.051379, -8.400237 |
Training
20 to 24 August 2018
During the week before the Festival, six local people will be trained in the skills of bloomery iron making. The trainer is one of the very best: Lee Sauder (www.leesauder.com). The training will not really be public, but interested people can come over and watch.
All positions for trainee smelters are now filled!
Smelting Weekend
25 and 26 August 2018
At the weekend, several teams, including the newly trained, will smelt iron ore into forgeable iron. Up to now, 19 smelters from 9 different countries have confirmed to attend or are seriously considering. The forging of the blooms will take place on the Sunday.
Click here to see the teams of smelters (names of team leads only)
