The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘A Duke, a King and an Emperor’
“THE request for these few lines came from Geraldine Brosnan of The Kerryman, herself a native of Meenleitrim, Knocknagoshel and daughter of Catherine and Jerh Brosnan. Geraldine requested in particular details of the ancient crafts and folklore of Knocknagoshel village and parish.
Firstly as a young garsun, I spent many a summer’s day excited and in awe as I watched the famous blacksmiths of the day: Coffey, John Murphy, Charlie Begley, Old Dave Leahy, and carpenters Bobby Carmody and Jack Broderick put bands on the timber wheels of horses’ cars at the ever flowing Tobar Na Tine.
The well stoked fire was used to expand the metal bands, and the water to cool it down. When cooled the metal contracted and formed a tight fit with the timber wheel never to shift an inch even over rough country roads. The craftsmanship on display was definitely a work of art.
Also during this period of time there were 4 tailors plying their trade locally in the village, making suits, overcoats and uniforms for the Gardaí in Kerry and Limerick. Along with the 4 master tailors, all experts in their work, Dan Murphy, Charlie Hartnett, Jim Griffin and Chris O’Connor, they were augmented by the travelling journeymen tailors who came and went as they please every week.
They were all excellent craftsmen. Half a book would be needed to describe their influence on the trade and on the 5 public houses they visited daily in the village. Knocknagoshel is truly a wonderful place and as Listowel writer Billy Keane once said: ‘the parish was once home to a Duke, a King and an Emperor.’