Mick Hanbury (U.K.) gave a workshop at Tony Farrell's place on the day after the Annual seminar.  For the 17 participants who attended it was a wonderful day.  Tony Farrell's now famous ham luncheon added greatly, as usual, to the event.
Working on four lathes the different groups made each of the projects that Mick had demonstrated in Midleton the previous day.  The artistic side was prominent for two of the groups.  They opted to make the coloured "rose" bowl and a great job they made of them too.  One very adventurous group got to grips with the triangular bowl and when they got the blank spinning at full speed it was like being inside an old-fashioned propellor-driven aeroplane.  The more conservative of us were happy to concentrate on the three-sided box and luckily the ever-generous Tony Farrell, our host for the day, provided enough blanks to enable us, because we didn't get to finish the project, take it up again on our home lathes.
It was a beautifully sunny day and we wound up the day sitting in the sunshine with teas and coffees and the most delicious chocolate biscuit cake and lemon-flavoured queen cakes.
Mick Hanbury is a wonderful teacher and demonstrator and had unbounded energy throughout the day as he darted about from lathe to lathe instructing and correcting.  Tony, our host, became a second trainer and as usual was more than generous with his advice and help.  As a further demonstration of his generosity nobody left Waterfall without a few pieces of wood from Tony's large stock.
The attached photographs are some random shots from the very excellent day.

Our guest turners for the seminar on the 18th April were Mick Hanbury from the U.K. and Philip Mahon from Sligo.  We are deeply grateful to both of them for a wonderful days turning.
Mick did three exciting projects; the first was a triangular bowl on a pedestal; the second was a bowl, the outside of which he coloured black and then added flower designs, using a compressor, and for the third project he made a three-sided box with a minaret-type top.
Philip, meanwhile and to the delight of many, stayed with straight-forward honest-to-goodness turning.  His first project was a covered sugar bowl and scoop, which he repeated for a different audience later in the day and for his second project he made a most attractive candlestick.

For the first session after lunch our own chapter turners, Chairman John Ahern and committee member Peter Manning, gave, in their usual style, excellent demonstrations.  John did a potpourri bowl in yew but took the opportunity to demonstrate his new Simon Hope jig for deep hollowing.  Peter did a "mystery" saltcellar.  It was demonstrated by Nick Cook in the National Seminar last year and is available on one of his DVDs.  It is a fun project and placed on any dining table is a definite conversation creator.

Mick Hanbury

Mick's rose bowl

Philip Mahon with his completed bowl and scoop.

Whoever said to avoid making pairs - clearly doesn't apply to Philip

Peter Manning, working on his mystery saltcellar

John Ahern with one of his potpourri bowls.

Our annual seminar took place today, 18th April, 2015 at Midleton Park Hotel.  Everybody attending reported that they had a great day and a longer, more comprehensive report on the day will be posted in the next few days.  In the meantime hearty congratulations to Dave Lee and Jim O'Donovan who shared the homers in the open competition.  It is a common phrase that a picture paints a thousands words and therefore I leave it to the attached photos to tell the story.  Dave got both first and second place whilst Jim got third.  Both were very popular winners.

Dave Lee with his prize-winning entries. 1st on the left; 2nd on the right.

Jim O'Donovan with his 3rd place entry.

I understand that Mrs. Eileen O'Donoughue's removal will be from O'Connors, North Gate Bridge on Saturday at 4.00 pm to Little Island Church. Burial is Monday after 11.00 am Mass in Little Island to the local cemetery.

Thursday, 26th February, 2015
It is with deep regret and sorrow that I want to notify Chapter members and friends that Leo O'Donoughue's wife, Eileen, passed away last night. Our deepest sympathies are with Leo and family. There are no funeral arrangements available yet.  
Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anam dilis.

For our January meeting we were back at Padraig Mac An Fheallaigh’s at Dromohane, outside Mallow.  Pádraigh produced a replica of a large, altar style, candlestick, which he made using, for the most part, a skew chisel.  Some of the newer members were fascinated by the ease-of-use and dexterity Pádraigh displayed with that much-maligned implement and several members who had opted out of its use went away determined to try again.

Pádraigh's original

The replica - yet to be finished

Most turners, it seems, make pens at one time or another but to see somebody else making them can sometimes be a great opportunity to reassess our work methods and practices.  When Paddy Lynch decided to demonstrate how he goes about it there was general satisfaction among the attendance.  Paddy is, of course, one our most popular demonstrators as he talks his way through whatever project he undertakes with total, open, honesty and wonderful witticisms.  During his continuous soliloquy he told us that he doesn’t favour cyanoacrylates (super glue) but prefers to use a two-part epoxy adhesive.  Paddy does, however, use cyanoacrylate for a finish.

Paddy shows his pens

It would be impossible not to smile on seeing Paddy's smile.

There was only a small entry for the competition, which was an inside/outside candlestick as demonstrated by Charlie at the December meeting.  First place went to David Lee, Second John O’Shea and third Peter Manning.

From left: Peter Manning; John O'Shea & Hugh Garrett (one of the judges) with Dave Lee's winning candlestick

We have an excellent line-up for our Annual Seminar in the Midleton Park Hotel, Midleton, on the 18th April next with Mick Hanbury (U.K.) and Philip Mahon (Sligo) as well as local turners.  Full details are to be found in an advertisement elsewhere in this Journal.  The hotel have agreed an excellent room rate for the event."

We had our A.G.M. in December.  Before we got down to business we had a wonderful demonstration from Charlie Ryan who travelled all the way from Dublin to be with us.  With great banter and conviviality Charley did and inside/out candlestick in mahogany with a contrasting finial in the centre.  It was a most enjoyable presentation and Charlie was bombarded with questions, which he answered fully.  

Charley at the lathe

Charley Ryans inside/outside candlestick

In recent years we have indulged ourselves with a little party at our last meeting before Christmas and this year was no exception.  I thought about doing a little survey on the possible relationship between the waist measurements of our male members and the quality of the food supplied by their wives/girlfriends.  I was too busy, however, sampling the cakes, pies, sandwiches and other goodies on offer and it was too late when I thought about my survey.  Everything was gone.  Needless to say the contributions from our lady members were mouth-watering.

The competition for December was open and there was a great display of excellent items. 

Some of the entries for the December competition (from "Advanced")

Jim O’Donovan won the trophy for the Turner of the Year, which was presented to him by Chairman, John Ahern.

Jim O'Donovan receives his "Turner of the Year" trophy from Chairman, John Ahern

Following the reading and adoption of the usual reports we got onto the elections.  John Ahern was persuaded to remain on as Chairman.  Michael Pattwell fills a newly created post of Vice-Chairman.  Michael also retains his position as P.R.O.  Mick Bouchier retains hos position of Hon Secretary and John O’Shea continues as Treasurer.  Ger Hennessy is the Health & Safety Officer/Coordinator.  Christy Fitzpatrick is the new Competitions secretary and Joe Kennedy is the Librarian.  The Committee remains largely as it was with Pat Dromey coming on board for the first time.

The meeting discussed the representation of the Chapter on the I.W.G. Executive and it was decided that we should explore the possibility of placing a motion for the next Guild A.G.M. to the effect that each Chapter should have a representative on the Executive instead of the current position whereby each Chapter can send an observer who would not be entitled to vote on issues.

The meeting also heard a preliminary report from Ger Hennessy on the Health and Safety issue and there is ongoing work to be done in the coming year, aimed at producing a comprehensive Safety Statement for the Chapter.