Ireland to host metalworker festival

A GIANT artistic structure that looks like a spaceship cone travelled 365 kilometres across Ireland at the weekend to become the centrepiece of this week’s world blacksmithing showcase.

The 4.1-metre tall and 1.8m wide steel structure weighing 2.5 tonnes, known as the Hive of Knowledge, left blacksmith Mark Keeling’s forge in Clonakilty, Co Cork, for a truck-ride to Monaghan for the international forge-in featuring 200 blacksmiths from all over the globe.

The Irish Artist Blacksmith’s Association, which organised the three-day event, said Monaghan will be shut down two days before — on Wednesday — as temporary forges with burning fires begin to operate.