Two elderly Kilkenny men showcase the unique skills of a dying craft
From the Kilkenny People archive (October 25, 1974)
Two elderly Kilkennymen whose trades are dying slowly but surely, have brought their skills to the rescue of a State body.
As the Board of Works searched for a wheelwright for a Government-kept windmill they persuaded 73-year-old Kilkenny wheelwright Jim Brennan to come out of retirement.
Jim is one of Ireland’s two living full-time wheelwrights (the second is in Armagh). The craft is almost dead.
The wooden wheel was fashioned by Jim Brennan and a namesake John Brennan from the Kells Road, who agreed to complete the work. Blacksmith John shod the wheel at his forge in Evan’s Lane.
It had been almost 10 years since wheelwright Jim worked on a wheel. It had almost been as long since 60-year-old John had shod a cart wheel.
Together they completed the wheel which will be a vital part of the mechanism of a windmill at Tacumshane, Co Wexford.
The wheel was made for the National Parks and Monuments branch of the Board of Works who are restoring the mill which is used for grinding corn.
The wheel is almost twice the size of a normal cart wheel. It is six feet in diameter, has 14 wooden spokes and is bound with a steel band.
Wheelwright Jim, who learned his craft from a Peter Farrell of Higginstown, Kilkenny more than 50 years ago, was delighted to get the chance to show his skills again.
“I nearly had it all forgotten,” he joked, “but soon it all came back.”