traditional craft

In our fifth episode, we chat with Eoin Madigan and Dom Keogh.

Eoin Madigan is a sixth-generation stonemason and lime practitioner from the Burren region of Co. Clare, Ireland. He is passionate about the conservative repair of vernacular structures and specialises in the use of historic lime mortars. In 2005 he won a placement with The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). He is now a committee member and trainer for The Building Lime Forum Ireland and a founding member of SPAB Ireland where again he is a trainer in masonry and lime mortars.

Dominic Keogh is a Stonemason from Kilmovee in East Mayo, an area rich in culture and heritage. The stone strewn local landscape, criss-crossed with meandering sandstone walls, and vernacular farmhouses originally led Dominic to begin experimenting with local dry stone building techniques, gaining knowledge from older farmers in the Kilmovee area.

In today's chat, we discuss Eoin and Dom's individual journeys into careers as stonemasons specialising in vernacular conservation, tradititional techniques, which has led to the development of Vernacon. They discuss their views on barriers to apprenticeships in traditional crafts, their top tips to approach the conservation of a vernacular building, and we find out what their favourite vernacular building is.

Hosted by Tríona Byrne and Róisín Beirne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Sector Support Fund 2021.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in July 2021.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at spabireland@gmail.com. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!

https://www.vernacon.ie/

https://www.instagram.com/vernacon.ltd/

https://airt.ie/tutors-cuas-classes/49-airt-courses-dominic-keogh.html

#030. Rebecca Oaks, author of the book Making Charcoal and Biochar, joins us to discuss charcoal, it's history and uses, traditional methods of making it, what it looks like from a small scale charcoal burners perspective, and suggestions for making some at home. I will be undoubtedly making a few batches this summer-- for use in the garden and the grill if nothing else!
In the quest to learn to make things from the ground up, charcoal making is arguably one of those fundamental skills that many folks never realize they needed to know. These days the average person most likely only consciously uses charcoal for grilling food at a summer bbq, but at one point it was a substance that fueled much of the technological advancement that occurred. Metal ores were smelted using copious amounts of charcoal, gunpowder is mostly ground up charcoal, and charcoal is still used in a vast array of industrial applications. Lets learn about making some for ourselves!

Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/30

#028. -- In this episode I chat with professional blacksmith Sam Ritter about his journey as a craftsman. We chat about how he got introduced to blacksmithing, what his path was to going full time, why it was important for him to be around and learn from a master smith, becoming better at your craft and pushing your capabilities, his use of modern tools in a traditional craft, and much more. We also spend a bit of time chatting about traditional apprenticeship and journeyman stages and how  being exposed to other masters techniques can influence your progression and aesthetic in the craft you choose to pursue. 

Links to any resources mentioned can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/28

#027. Janey joins us to do a quick dive into how to tan fish leather using tea leaves (or other tannin sources). We also chat about her introduction to fish skin tanning and ancestral skills in general, why she loves ancestral skills, oil tanned fish leather, natural dyes, teaching others and nature connection. I loved the enthusiasm that Janey brought to the conversation!

Links to resources mentioned in this episode can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/27

#026.  -- In this episode I chat with Helen about some of the traditional crafts she's involved with, how she became involved in them, and what draws her to them. We talk about keeping sheep, natural dyes, fair isle knitting, burning peat, the fleece rugs she makes, and so much more! Like many of us she is a dabbler in many traditional crafts, with a passion for learning about heritage crafts-- in particular those from the Viking era.

Oh yes, and I also spend way too much time asking about the Shetland Islands. . . =) I didn't know much about them and Helen was gracious enough to indulge my curiosity!


Notes from this episode can be found over at:
folkcraftrevival.com/26

#024. In this conversation we discuss getting started in blacksmithing, what you'll need, where to find tools, what to look for before buying, general guidelines for smithing, etc. We also cover some suggested resources and Vern's experiences teaching blacksmithing. Fun conversation!

Links to resources mentioned can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/24

#021. -- In this episode we talk through the principles of scrimshaw and how it is done, from prepping your work piece to tools needed, techniques used, legality issues, and so much more. We also discuss the history of scrimshaw as a nautical art and how it has progressed through history to the present day. If you're curious about trying scrimshaw, or simply like to learn about the common crafts and arts of our past, this episode is for you!

Links to resources mentioned can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/21

#019. -- You know those old-time rustic bent willow chairs? I think of them as being a product of the Great Depression, others think of them as being emblematic of gypsies. Regardless, they are one of the mostly forgotten folk crafts of our past.... And today we're talking about how to make one with Justin Roberts of Walk the Willow! I've been curious about these chairs for years, but have never known anyone who could show me how to make one. Fortunately, Justin was willing to chat about it!

Some example pictures and links to any resources mentioned in the episode can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/19

#018. We talk about a variety of fun topics in this episode including yurt building (and touch on some other traditional/natural building techniques), managing a coppiced hardwood forest, English green woodworking, and traditional lime wash and lime production in the UK. Alex and his wife run Little Foot Yurts which produces handmade yurts from coppice wood they've harvested themselves. Additionally, they also run an event catering business renting out the yurts they've made, and teach workshops on yurt building.

Links to any resources mentioned in the episode can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/18

#017- If you're interested in making your own pottery you first need to know how to find and process the clay that is local to your area. In this episode we're discussing how to find and identify local wild clays for making your own handmade pottery. We also dive into how to refine and purify that clay, as well as temper it and test it. Andy does a lot of replica pottery that revolves around the archeological pottery of his area, so we also discuss the cultures of the Southwestern U.S. and how some of their pottery differs.
If you're interested in learning to source your own materials and become more self sufficient in the craft this episode is for you.... and if that's not you, it's still fascinating to learn!

Links to any resources mentioned can be found at:

www.folkcraftrevival.com/17

#016- Rug Braiding, that unique American craft developed as a way of turning scrap cloth into something useful. . . and gorgeous too! Learn about the craft of making traditional braided rugs as well as the art form it has evolved into. In this episode we discuss the origins of braided rugs, how they're made, how the craft has evolved, and getting started on making one of your own.

Links to any resources mentioned can be found over at:

folkcraftrevival.com/16

#015. We talk about the construction and use of pole lathes, compare them with modern electric lathes and discuss what drew Jarrod to pole lathes to begin with and why he chose to focus on turning rather than other traditional crafts. This was a fun conversation that also delved a little into the philosophical realm as we talk about the reasons for pursuing production work, focusing on one design or craft to obtain mastery, "realcraft", and functionality.

Catch the links to any resources mentioned in the episode over at:

folkcraftrevival.com/15

#014. Want to learn to felt? Have wool and need something to do with it? Consider trying felting!
In this episode of the Folk Craft Revival podcast we discuss the basic method and theory behind wet felting wool as a way to create hats, boots, mittens, vests, rugs, etc. I was introduced to felting last fall when I took a class from Rosemary and made my own hat and I think it's the type of project many of you will enjoy!

Links to any resources mentioned in the episode can be found at:

folkcraftrevival.com/14

#013 - Today we're talking construction, dry stone construction! Dry stone masonry is an age old craft, we have examples of it going back centuries.... amazingly you can still find a lot of it intact too! If you're like me, the first examples that pop into mind are the stone walls found throughout the UK and the new england states here in the U.S. I've always been fascinated by them, I love craft that endures for so long. Plus it's beautiful!
This week we're talking with modern craftsman Bryce Hollingsworth about dry stone construction and how he got involved in masonry. Great talk with a great craftsman-- I found this to be a fascinating topic, I hope you do as well!

Links to all the resources mentioned can be found over at:

folkcraftrevival.com/13

#005. Learn to weave with willow! Nick LaHaise from Hearth Folk School joins us to discuss weaving  willow baskets. We cover everything from harvesting willow to handle attachment. This episode provides a great introduction to willow weaving for beginners and is a great refresher for those who have dabbled with weaving in the past.

Check out the links to any resources mentioned in the episode over at

folkcraftrevival.com/fcr5

004- Learn to tan without chemicals! Jessie Watson Brown from the Oak and Smoke Tannery joins us to discuss bark tanning furs and teach us some of the ins and outs of traditional bark tanning. If you raise rabbits for meat, hunt small game, or know anyone else who hunts this episode is an essential tool in learning how to utilize the fur!

Warning: from here on you won't look at animals quite the same.... you'll be eyeing that roadkill rabbit on your way home from work wondering what you could turn it into!

Check out the show notes and grab the links to any resources mentioned over at:

folkcraftrevival.com/fcr4

#001- A podcast for traditional skills enthusiasts! Do you love to learn new skills? Exploring our past? Work with your hands to create what you use? Welcome!
Join Daniel Howell (the host) as he talks about his history with traditional skills and crafts and discusses the upcoming focus of the Folk Craft Revival Podcast. If you want hands on actionable information on making, learning and doing projects ranging from primitive through the artisan era, this podcast should be your new go-to resource. 

The website is now live, check it out here!

https://folkcraftrevival.com/episode1