Step back in time at the 13th Annual That Beats Banagher Festival!
Festival will be an unforgettable celebration of Ireland's rich heritage
THE 13th annual That Beats Banagher festival will offer the general public an opportunity to experience live blacksmithing, iron ore smelting, basket weaving, stone carving, ceramic workshops, heritage walks, and so much more, when it takes place next week.
This weekend packed with traditional skills, culture, and family fun, will take place from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July in Banagher Barrack Yard.
It will be an unforgettable celebration of Ireland's rich heritage, say the organisers. “This highly anticipated weekend celebrates local history and traditional crafts with highlights including the 'Battle of the Blacksmiths,' iron ore smelting, the Long Puck across the River Shannon, live music, and heritage walks.”
There will be Heritage Tours, film screenings, community & arts events. The event explores the local history behind the phrase “That Beats Banagher” and highlights the town’s rich heritage.
The festival includes a vibrant mix of family-friendly activities with strong links to the local arts, heritage and the scenic River Shannon.
At the heart of the festival is the acclaimed Forged in Ireland blacksmithing event, where some of Ireland's finest blacksmiths, bladesmiths and knifemakers gather to demonstrate their skills. Visitors can watch spectacular live forging demonstrations, enjoy the fast-paced Battle of the Blacksmiths, the exciting Golden Anvil Challenge, and a thrilling chopping competition where makers put their handcrafted blades to the test.
Jamie will also lead an adult bladesmithing workshop, giving participants the opportunity to forge their own blade while learning the traditional skills and science of heat treating.
Alongside the blacksmithing, Keith Armitage and the Shannon Iron Smelters will once again bring ancient iron-making back to life with fascinating iron ore smelting demonstrations. Using traditional clay furnaces and locally sourced ore, visitors can watch the entire process of producing iron as it would have been done centuries ago, celebrating Banagher's historic connection with ironworking.
The festival also features an outstanding programme of traditional craft demonstrations from some of Ireland's finest artisans. Michelle Bell will host hands-on clay workshops where participants can create their own decorative pieces and festival keepsakes using traditional hand-building techniques. Lorcan Dunne, an experienced stone carver and sculptor, will demonstrate the ancient craft of transforming Irish limestone into beautiful carved works by hand.
Young visitors can discover their own creativity in the popular Junior Blacksmith Corner, run by the Forged in Ireland team, where children can safely experience cold forging and create their own metal keepsake.
The festival also celebrates Banagher's rich history. Local historian James Scully will lead the annual Heritage Walk, exploring Fort Eliza, the Bridge Barracks and Banagher Bridge, while also hosting a pop-up bookshop featuring local history publications and other titles.
Families can relax at the Saturday evening outdoor family cinema in Banagher Park, and spend the weekend exploring a vibrant celebration of heritage, creativity and community.
The Blacksmithing Workshop runs on Friday July 24 from 11am to 5pm in the Barrack Yard.
The same day, at 6pm, people can assemble at Crank House for the Heritage Walk.
On Saturday July 25 from 10am to 4.30pm the Straw Weaving demo with Padraig Larkin will take place in the Barrack Yard. During the same time and in the same place visitors will be able to enjoy Traditional Woodcraft, the Junior Blacksmithing Corner, Iron Ore Smelting, Stone Carving, the Battle of the Blacksmiths, and a Clay Making Workshop.
For more information see www.thatbeatsbanagher.com