A FRENCH craftsman who has made Clare his home is hoping to forge a brand new festival in Ennis. Guy Urbin, who was the resident blacksmith at the Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford, is organising a blacksmith and craft festival which will take place in the county capital this weekend.
The festival which will be held at Market Place promises to be real hot stuff with four forges and at least 12 blacksmiths demonstrating their craft across two days.
Guy and his wife who moved to Ennis last year opened an art and craft gallery in Curtin’s Lane. He explains one of the reasons he is organising this weekend’s festival is to express his appreciation to the people of Ennis for the welcome they have receive and to bring more events to the town. He also wants to showcase the traditional craft to others who may not have had the opportunity before this to see blacksmithing in person.
Guy previously organised the successful ‘Steel Bangers Festival’ in Wexford as well as demonstrating his craft at Bloom. As well as blacksmiths, Guy has invited local crafts artists to join them including painters, coppersmiths, basket makers, woodturners and more.
The festival will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday of this weekend at Market Place. According to Guy the event is suitable for all the family and he hopes to make this a biannual event in the future.
He told us, “I organised this to say thank you to the people in Ennis for the fantastic welcome, making us feel that we were born here. The other reason is that it is our duty to pass on our knowledge even if it is only visual, as many people have never seen a forge in action.
“The goal, also is to bring events to the centre instead of miles away from town. It is not what Ennis can do for us, but what we can do for Ennis, a little town with great potential, with a lot of local talented artists and crafters.”
He adds that from previous events he has seen a real interest among young people in learning more about the craft. “I have been doing this in Bloom for many years and many young ones are very interested, some of our apprentices have come from there.”
The reaction from other traders in the town to the idea has been “fantastic”, with many grateful that he is organising an event aimed at bringing people to the town centre. “One of the shopkeepers selling clothes was so  happy they gave me two pairs of socks to thank me for doing it,” he smiled adding Clare County Council have been very supportive.
“This will be a unique experience to see many craft people working, a lovely way to bring the whole family to a local place. I am hoping to make this a biannual event, to make awards to the public of local talents, to make Ennis and Clare a place of interest. We have everything to make it happen.”
He is still accepting craftspeople who want to get involved in showcasing their skills at the event saying, “everyone is welcome as long as they perform in front of people”. Those interested in taking part can contact him on 087 2471062.