This is the bicycle that won the Chapter Challenge at the I.W.G. Chapter Challenge, 2015. It was made by the South-East Chapter. It is ALL wood, including the chain (about 600 pieces alone), the tyres (the pattern was hand carved) and the wheel spokes (they were all made by hand). The brakes actually work and if the pedals are turned the chain drives the rear wheel, which actually freewheels. It is an incredible piece of work, as were all eight entries for the competition. Hearty congratulations to all the South-East team.
Cork Chapter did not have an entry but hopefully we will remedy that next year and in future years.

On Saturday last we were all back again at Tony Farrell's for the September workshop.  Whilst Tony is very far from being a one trick pony - a look at his many and varied creations in his studio gives definite testimony to that - he has developed quite a reputation for his very large bowls.  It was, accordingly, not a great surprise when his subject for the day was a large bowl in ash.
He started from the very beginning by taking the members out of doors where he cut the blank from a large trunk.  All the while he explained his chainsaw technique and this alone was a valuable learning experience for most of us.  He then went on to demonstrate the care of the chainsaw, including the sharpening of it.
The blank he then mounted on his big VB36 lathe was then about 37% moisture content.  
Tony likes to rough turn his bowls initially and then put them away for several months until the moisture content is reduced to 16 or 17 per cent.  He then remounts them and finishes them.  He mounts the roughly rounded blank using a faceplate ring, rough turns the outside and then puts in a recess for turning the blank around so that he can partly hollow the inside.  
He leaves the ring in place for remounting later and this, of course, means that he leaves quite a substantial column in the centre.
When, at the beginning of his demonstration, Tony mounted what seemed to many to be gigantic blank and switched the lathe on several members lost no time in moving out of the line of fire in case the blank decided to part company with the lathe.  Not likely to happen, however, because Tony Farrell is the consummate professional and safety is his second name.
Our demonstrator took the wet, rough turned blank off the lathe and substituted one that had been prepared up to 12 months previously.  He took us through every stage of the process until at the end of the day he passed around a complete bowl, finished to perfection.
Thank you, Tony, for another great day in your workshop and thank you, Alice and your team for the delicious lunch, complete with your traditional baked ham.  There will always be a large crowd at Tony Farrell's workshop, the reputation for his lunch is hard to match.
There was a very disappointing entry for the monthly competition which was a bowl on a pedestal.  Ger Hennessy was the winner and it was agreed that the other three would share joint second.
Next month the competition is again a bowl, following Tony's demonstration.  It can be any wood, any shape or any size - though something bigger than an eggcup would be preferred.

Joe Kennedy, our librarian, has reminded me that DVDs of each of our monthly workshops are available to members at the ridiculously low price of €5.00.  Joe can be contacted at 086 3637378.

Ger Hennessy's winning entry

There was a disappointing entry of only four items for the competition

Tony explains the next step.

Tony tells the assembled members what tool he was using and why.

We are very grateful to our Kerry Chapter sisters and brothers for the invitation to join them at their open day and seminar in Tralee on Saturday, 12th September, 2015.  Five of our members were able to attend and there were apologies from several other members, including our chairman, for being unable to do so.
We had an excellent day and Seamus Cassidy gave us everything we could expect and much more.  Thank you, Seamus, for your expertise and for sharing so much of it with us.

Seamus Cassidy's cone-shaped box in burr elm and ash.

At the end of the day the Cork Chapter members present were delighted when it was announced that our esteemed member, David Lee, won the 'Advanced' section of the competition for 'any turned item with added colour'.  Well done, Dave, you did us proud yet again.

Dave Lee with his winning platter.

Seamus Cassidy's mid-height lamps in 4 parts

Seamus Cassidy's bowl on steam-bent legs

We were delighted too when our friend, Anne Dunne, was announced as the winner of the other section.  Well done (no pun intended), Anne.
I don't know how the host chapter managed to put on what they did for such a modest fee.  There was a great lunch served too for the very low price of €8.00.
With the Carpentry Store having set up shop for the day many of those attending were delighted to be able to replenish supplies.

Our Chapter and our neighbouring Kerry Chapter have, over the years, developed a strong friendship and cooperation.  They are having a seminar in Tralee on Saturday next, 12th September.  It would be nice if as many Cork based members as possible would support it.  It is an excellent programme, very reasonably priced and Seamus Cassidy is well worth seeing in action.  The details are as follows:

The Kerry Chapter would like to extend an invitation to Cork Chapter members who may wish to see Seamus Cassidy in the Institute of Technology, Tralee (South Campus) on Saturday 12th September from 9.30 to 4.00. 
The cost is €12  and bring your own packed lunch, tea/coffee provided, or €20 if we can guarantee 20 to 30 people wishing to avail of a hot meal which the college is prepared to provide.

The Carpentry Store is attending and this is Seamus' programme: 
    9.30 -11.00     4 part table lamp in walnut, maple and ebony
    11.30 - 1.00    Ash, elm and ebony finial box 
    2.00 - 4.00      Burr elm bowl form with gold leaf and 3 steambent legs
The event is also a free 'Open Day' for new, hopefully young, interested parties, and has been advertised in the local press with a view to possibly initiating a woodturning course at the college.

Anyone can text Lesley Clarke on 0863642499 if he/she wishes to take the offer of a hot meal, but I need to know catering numbers at the beginning of the coming week. 

Lesley now tells me that the meal will be available but she should be notified so that she will know the number of people partaking of it.

Whilst the Chapter Webmaster was away on vacation two of our esteemed members suffered bereavements.  I have to apologise if any of our members or friends missed out on the details.  Thank you, Mick Bouchier, for circulating the details by email in so far as you could.

On 26th August the death occurred of Margaret (Peggy) Sweeney of Maryville, Castleredmond, Midleton.  Peggy was the mother of Teresa Ahern, wife of our Chairman, John Ahern.  The funeral took place on Friday last.  

On behalf of the Cork Chapter of the I.W.G. we offer Teresa, John and Teresa's entire family our sincere sympathies.  
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dílis.

On behalf of the Cork Chapter we also extend our sympathies to  P.J. O'Brien whose father, Peter O'Brien, passed away, also on the 26th August, at his home at Bradford, Co. Clare.  Our sympathies too to P.J.'s entire family.  Peter's funeral took place today, Saturday

Tá súil againn gur bhain and beirt acu le céile ar dheis Dé an Caodaoin seo caite.

Our fellow Cork Chapter member, Jim Byrne, (Phone 087 2430765) has acquired a good sized yew tree and would be willing to sell some of it on to fellow members. Contact Jim directly. The tree is felled for a bit less than a year - he thinks about 9 months.  Jim lives in the Glanmire area.

On Monday, 27^th July 2015 seventeen members of the Cork Chapter travelled to Rathvilly, Co. Carlow to visit the sawmill and Bunbury Boards manufacturing plant at Lisnavagh House.  We were met on arrival by Mr. William Bunbury, the managing director, who gave a most interesting talk about the history of the fine old house, built in 1847 – 1849 and of the Bunbury family who have been there since the 16^th century.

At the plant we were treated to an excellent light lunch.  Cheryl, a very knowledgeable young lady who was well able to answer all our questions, then conducted us through the operation, from the planking of the trees to the finished product. 

As well as cutting boards of various sizes they now produce a range of bowls as well – through the work of an excellent woodturner, Willie MacHutcheon.  Willie demonstrated the rough turning of large blanks, which he then cored, using the Oneway coring system, and made ready for kiln drying.  To say we were impressed is a gross understatement.

Despite the fact that the people at Lisnavagh treated us very hospitably it was felt that the day wouldn’t be complete without a stopover on the way home for our evening meal and an assessment of the day.  We called to Lawlors Hotel in Dungarvan where the proprietor, Mr. Mick Burke (A Cork County footballer of note in his day) made sure that we were well fed and well treated.

We are very grateful to our Hon. Secretary, Mick Bouchier, for organising the day.  We have a special word of thanks too to the 37^th Cork Scout Group (Togher) who lent us their mini-bus for the day.  That made all the difference because we were able to travel together, thus adding to the enjoyment (and the slagging too of course).

Planking there logs

John Ahern and David Lee admire some of the Bunbury bowls.

Resident woodturner, Willie MacHutcheon, coring with the Oneway coring system.

The travelling group.