September Workshop Leo Donoghue at Home

Leo Donoghue hosted the Sept. workshop in his workshop which is situated in the Little Island. Leo made a square bowl, he first explained the importance of having  the blank square and the hole for the screw chuck in the centre. He then went on to turn the outside and having sanded and finished it he reversed it to finish the inside. Leo then proceeded to burned the top of the blank with a gas torch to blacken it so that when the bowl was finished the raised bead that he had made stood out , it was indeed a most attractive finish. It was a very informative day enjoyed by all present (35). We would like to thank Eileen Leo's  wife, his two granddaughters, and his niece,  for the lovely food tea and coffee especially Eileen's flans. When Leo burned the top of the bowl , he removed it and did so outside the workshop. He also pointed out that to do so in the workshop is not safe that such actions could to a fire.

Trip to Lorcan & Anne Dunne in Kerry

Twenty members of the Cork Chapter travelled to Lorcan Dunnes workshop, The Old Schoolhouse, Blackwater Bridge, Kenmare, Co Kerry, for their annual outing 2013.
We met at Togher HQ, at 9am and travelled by bus to Lorcans arriving at 10.30. Shortly after he began his first demo which I must say was excellent and greatly enjoyed and appreciated by all present.

We then enjoyed a beautiful and substantial lunch prepared by Anne.  After lunch we relaxed in the warm sunshine and also admired the pieces in their Studio/Gallery. Lorcan informed us that Anne his wife is also an accomplished turner and is the one who does all the colouring of their pieces.

We then returned to the workshop,where Lorcan turned a beautiful box. Then the inevitable turners discussion on wood, tools, techniques etc took place. We then had a further trip to the house for more tea/coffee and a recital on the uilleann pipes played by John Mitchell and Lorcan it was indeed beautiful .
Both John and Lorcan are professional  pipe makers.  John also a professional music teacher both of the pipes, tin whistle, and the flute.

I would like to thank Lorcan, Anne,Monty our cameraman who did an excellent job keeping us informed as to what was going on on the lathe, Lesley who made sure that we were all well fed, again on behalf of us all thank you.

We then headed home, on the bus where many discussions took place, all agreed that it was a very enjoyable and successful day and look forward to the next one.
The reason that only twenty members travelled was that Lorcans workshop could not comfortably accommodate more than that number , when the trip was announced it was agreed that it was the first twenty names that would travel.