School: Lisnabo, Newtownforbes (roll number 15460)

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1. The Local Forge (continued)

   

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   and sometimes he has a very hard time shoeing them because some of them very often kick.
   The way he shoes horses or donkeys is he takes up the animal's foot and pares the hoof then puts the shoe in the fire and make it red hot; having done this he takes it out, and puts it to the animals hoof to fit it. This gives a very ugly smell and smoke. If it is the right size he puts it in cold water to cool it, and when it is cool he gets some nails and a hammer, and in this way puts on the shoe.
   The smiths are looked on as being strong because when sledging his muscles in his arms always kept going up and down and in this way his arms are very strong.
   It is said that the forge water is a cure for something on horses.
   I never heard of any belief connected with the sparks which fly from the red iron.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. trades and crafts (~4,680)
            1. smithing (~2,389)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Dorothy Dixon

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Aghareagh, Co. Longford