CHURCHILL FORGING AHEAD

SOUND OF THE ANVIL TO RING OUT IN CHURCHILL ONCE AGAIN THANKS TO THE SPA FENIT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

THANKS to the hard work of the Spa and Fenit community the sound the anvil will once again ring out in Churchill.

In recent years Spa Fenit Community Council have renovated the Old Forge in Churchill and restored a wide range of implements used by the blacksmith in former times.

The Community Council is now investing in excess of €100,000 to extend and upgrade the forge – which is located just across the road from the local church – to include an additional exhibition space, kitchenette, toilets and ancillary accommodation.

They are also installing a waste water treatment unit, polishing filter and associated works.

The forge is situated on the Wild Atlantic Way on the route from Ardfert to Fenit and as such the renovated forge and its new exhibition area will offer tourists on the increasingly popular tourist trail an attractive and interesting new place to visit.

The new attraction will provide a link to the monastic set- tlement in Ardfert; the Brendan Way and the Brendan Heritage Centre in the scenic harbour of Fenit.

The increased exhibition area will include additional memorabilia and artefacts associated with the ancient skills of the blacksmith.

It is also hoped to have regular demonstrations of horse shoeing and iron crafts in the summer months.

The amenity should also be a popular attraction for the many school tours that regularly visit the locality and it should be of particular interest to Transition Year students.

“The forge has a special fascination of its own and should prove most popular with visitors to the area,” said Spa Fenit Community Council spokesperson Dermot Crowley.

The Committee are also planning social evenings at the forge which they say will showcase all that is best in local cultural entertainment and which can be enjoyed in comfort by the local community and visiting tourists alike.

“Once more the sound of the anvil will be heard in Churchill recalling memories past when the forge was a focal point in the parish,” said Mr Crowley.

The Community Council said they owe a great debt of gratitude to Fred and Kay Krehbiel of Churchill House; Kerry Group and North East and West Kerry Development for the generous financial support they each provided to the restoration project.

“Their generosity has ensured that a unique tourist attraction will be there for the enjoyment of present and future generations,” Mr Crowley said.

Preliminary work on the extension is underway and it shouldn’t be long before the fruits of the community group’s labours are there for all to see.

Edward Dowling (builder) going over the plans for the extension of the Forge in Churchill with Nora Landers (Chairperson of the Churchill Forge group). Also pictured are Dermot Crowley, Jim Wrenn, Colette O’Sullivan and Johnny Foley.