REMEMBER: Limerick and District Chapter are holding their 25th Anniversary Seminar on
 May 14th 2016, At The Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick 
Full details on their website: http://www.limerickwoodturners.com.

DEMONSTRATORS:-
 LIAM FLYNN
CHRISTIEN VAN BUSSEL 
DONAL RYAN
TRADESTANDS IN ATTENDANCE 
Donal is already booked to demonstrate at Cork Chapter later this year.
This is one of our neighbouring chapters and we should support them.

Attention Cork Chapter Committee members. A committee meeting will be held at The Midleton Park Hotel on Monday next, 21st March (2 days time) at 7.30 p.m. to finalise preparations for the seminar scheduled for 4 weeks time, 16th April.

Our March workshop was, again, in our usual venue in Togher.  John Ahern, our Chairman, was the first demonstrator and he decided to repeat a workshop he did about 10 years ago.  This was a napkin ring but with a special emphasis on the jig he uses.

John likes to cut individual squares for each ring and sometimes he drills out the hole (about 35 mm) by clamping it onto a drill press or, sometimes, he might drill it out on the lathe.  The size of the ring is a matter of choice but the one John made for the workshop was 38 mm long.

John Ahern, making the cuts in his jig

The jig is just a base with a stem turned so that the rings fit neatly.  The stem is made of ash because of the flexibility of it.  A hole (size not critical but about 6 or 7 mm.) is drilled down for almost the full length and then the shaft is cut longitudinally, north/south & east/west so that when a pointed tailstock is inserted and tightened up it expands the shaft sufficiently to hold the ring for turning.

Jerry Twomey decided to demonstrate the turning of a banksia nut.  He had prepared one beforehand by cutting off the two ends and gluing in two pieces of wood where he had made the cuts.  He turned the entire lot into a most beautiful bud vase. 

Gerry Twomey's banksia nut bud vase.

Jerry advised holding the nut in a clamp when trimming the ends on the bandsaw, thus ensuring it doesn’t turn, with possible catastrophic consequences.  He also suggests using full-face protection, using tight cuffs on the smock and removal of watches or bracelets, as the debris from the nuts can be quite irritating on the skin.

banksia nuts

March competition entries

The competition was based on the February workshop and was for either an eggcup, with or without an egg, or a sphere.  The entry was disappointingly small but the standard was very high.  Liam Murray won ‘Beginners’.  ‘Intermediate’: Joe Kennedy, Denis Desmond and Marea Power, in that order.  ‘Advanced”: David Lee, Charlie McCarthy and Paddy O’Rourke, also in that order.

Liam Murray (right), winning his first competition, congratulated by Peter Manning

Charlie McCarthy(2nd) and Paddy O'Rourke (3rd) with judge, Peter Manning.

The Chapter Seminar will be held on Saturday, 16^th April and the venue this year is Togher Scout Hall, quite close to our usual Togher venue.  It is on the city side of the fly-over and on the corner of Togher Road and Tramore Road, just where one turns in for St. Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club.  Colwin Way – well known from his work with Axminster – is the demonstrator and we are happy to report that Des from The Hut will set up shop for the day.  Registration will commence at 9.00 a.m. and the demonstration will start at 10.00 a.m.

The cost of the seminar is €35.00.  In order to keep costs at a minimum we are not serving lunch (bring your own) but will provide tea and coffee.

There will be a Master class with Colwin on the following day (Sunday) at Tony Farrell’s workshop in Waterfall at an additional cost of €25.00 but places are limited and will be confined to those who participate in the seminar on the previous day. 

Bookings can be made with our Hon. Secretary, Mick Bouchier at 086 8520542 or by email to mick.bouchier@gmail.com.  Checking Mick’s list today it seems that booking is strong and anybody interested is well advised to make contact immediately.

We were back "at home" in Togher for our February workshop with two of the best turners we have in our chapter.  

Peter Manning did an eggcup and egg but with a "twist". Literally.  The 'leg' of the eggcup was done offset.  In Peter's hands what might be considered ordinary turned out to be extraordinary and I have no doubt but from here on eggcups produced by Cork Chapter members will have that "Manning Twist".  His egg too was perfectly formed and sat exactly as it should in the cup when the project was finished.

Peter Manning, working on his eggcup.

Eggcup with a twist + egg

Gerard Hennessy was our second demonstrator.  Ger has developed a huge interest in going beyond the simple turned item, be it a bowl, hollow form or spindle.  According to him these are just a “blank canvas” and are merely a foundation for what he eventually wants to produce.  It could be said that he has moved on from just being a ‘woodturner’ to being a ‘woodturning artist’. 

Ger Hennessy with his "artistic" hollow form

On the lathe Ger produced a medium-sized hollow form and then set about cutting grooves into it and eventually piercing them in random pattern in a way that produced a most interesting and attractive piece that would be a valuable addition to any collection.

Ger Hennessy's sphere, incorporating the Celtic Knot

With time left before our scheduled finishing time Ger then produced a rather perfect sphere but incorporating the beautiful Celtic Knot design that Pádraigh Mac An Fheallaigh demonstrated in January.  This is achieved by cutting deep slots into the squared wood and filling the slots with veneers of a contrasting colour before turning them in the ordinary way.  The resulting sphere was very attractive and when sanded and polished is bound to make an interesting conversation piece wherever it is produced.

February competition entries

The competition was for a spindle-turned item, with or without the same Celtic Knot design.  Pat Dromey, Joe Kennedy, Brian Goulding and Charlie McCarthy were among the winners in the various categories.

Winners of "Advanced": Charlie McCarthy, Paddy Lynch and Peter Manning.

Before the workshop got under way there was a short committee meeting, mainly about our Chapter seminar.  It will be held on Saturday, 16^th April and the venue this year is Togher Scout Hall, quite close to our usual Togher venue.  It is on the city side of the fly-over and on the corner of Togher Road and Tramore Road, just where one turns in for St. Finbarr’s Hurling and Football Club.  Colwin Way – well known from his work with Axminster – is the demonstrator and we are happy to report that there will be a shop available for the day.  Registration will commence at 9.00 a.m. and the demonstration will start at 10.00 a.m.

The cost of the seminar is €35.00.  In order to keep costs at a minimum we are not serving lunch (bring your own as the nearest shop is a good distance away) but will provide tea and coffee.

There will be a Master class with Colwin on the following day (Sunday) at Tony Farrell’s workshop in Waterfall at an additional cost of €25.00 but places are limited and will be confined to those who participate in the seminar on the previous day. 

Bookings can be made with our Hon. Secretary, Mick Bouchier at 086 8520542 or by email to mick.bouchier@gmail.com.

January, 2016 Workshop

A cold Saturday afternoon in January saw a smaller than usual crowd of enthusiastic woodturners from the Cork Chapter in Pádraigh Mac An Fheallaigh’s extensive workshop in Dromohane, just outside Mallow.  His main area of interest was the forming of a Celtic knot which he included in a couple of tool handles as well as a couple of pens.  He achieved this by cutting deep slots into the squared wood and filling the slots with veneers of a contrasting colour before turning them in the ordinary way.  He produced very decorative effects on the finished items.

Tool handle with the Celtic Knot design.

During our usual break in proceedings we enjoyed a varied lunch, for which we were all very grateful.

The competition was for a pestle and mortar as made by Brian Goulding at the November workshop with Brian acting as the judge.  Joe Kennedy won the Intermediate and Ger Hennessy won the advanced.

Ger Hennessy, with his winning entry, and Brian Goulding

Plans are well on hand now for the Chapter Seminar on the 16^th April next with Colwyn Way.  Colwyn will also do a master-class on the following day at Tony Farrell’s workshop.  More precise details will appear here fairly soon.

We held our A.G.M. for 2015 on Saturday 5th December 2015 at our usual venue at Togher.
To open the day we had a demonstration from Gorey woodturner, Pat Carroll.  Pat made a big impression and the general feeling when he had finished is that we would certainly love to have him visit us again.

Pat Carroll at work

He started by making the neatest spherical hollow form that this writer has ever seen.  In fact he made it in two pieces and then glued them together.  The joint was cleverly concealed by the narrow beads that became a feature of the piece.  He left the narrowest of openings at the top and the whole thing would almost certainly be a wonderful conversation piece wherever it would be on show.

Pat's next project was a shallow bowl with a wide brim, coloured and textured.  He used an interesting technique for the colouring; he used spray-paint and used a blowtorch to quick-dry it.  (Don'y try this at home unless you have a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket close at hand)

The third demonstration was a Christmas-tree decoration consisting of a hollow sphere and a long finial.  Pat used the same technique to colour that and the result was really beautiful.  He gifted it to an 18-year-old young-lady guest present and she went home literally walking on air.

Pat Carroll with his three completed projects

Thank you, Pat, for a great morning and we look forward to having you back again.

During the break we availed of the delicious cakes and mince-pies the members brought with them.  They were all delicious and we were very grateful for them but a certain sponge with raspberry filling (I think it was raspberry anyway)  had us all in a queue in case it would be all gone before we got to it.  (Top left corner of the photo.)

Some of the delicious fare on offer.  Thank you wives/partners.

We didn't have a competition but several members brought in work for a display.  

Some of the members' work on display.

More members' work on display

John Ahern chaired the A.G.M., which opened with a minutes silence for the members who had passed away during the year as well as the parents, spouses or other relatives of members.

The Secretary's report for the year has already been published on this website.  That outlines a very successful year for the Chapter and a very enjoyable one for the members.

In his address the Chairman thanked everybody who had contributed to the running of the Chapter.  The completeness of the Secretary's report meant, however, that there was little left for him to say.

In the Treasurer's report it was shown that the Chapter is in a good financial position and there was much praise for the stewardship of the Treasurer, John O'Shea.

Ger Hennessy introduced a report on Health and Safety.  This was met with great approval and appreciation for Ger and his Health & Safety Committee.

We got through a fairly long agenda without too much delay and we discussed a wide range of topics with most members contributing.  

Watch out for the full list of workshops scheduled for next year.  It will be on this website/Facebook page in a few days.

The officers are the same but there were some changes to the committee.  Again those will be put up in a few days when Mick Bouchier gets time to bring them up to date.

Our "Turner of the Year" is usually announced at the A.G.M. and the Chairman's Trophy is presented.  This is usually based on points earned from the workshop competitions but as those points were not available for the current year a small sub-committee was formed and they unanimously agreed that David Lee was to be the winner.  In presenting the trophy the Chairman pointed out that Dave had brought great honour to the Chapter by winning or being highly placed in several competitions throughout the country, including Gorey, Kerry and The National Seminar.  The Chairman also referred to Dave's contribution to the Chapter through the work that he does.  He is a very popular winner.  

David Lee receives the Chairman's Trophy for Chapter Woodturner of the Year from Chairman, John Ahern.

The year ahead promises to be an exciting one and any new developments will be fully reported on this page.  A couple of questionnaires were given out during the meeting and it would be very helpful if they could be returned at the next meeting.

Secretary’s report for year ending December 2015

Mick Bouchier

Hon. Secretary, Cork Chapter

5^th Dec 2015

Documents for each delegate.

1.             Agenda 2015 AGM

2.             Financial Report 2015

3.             Current Cork Committee

4.             Proposed workshop dates 2016/17

Two years have gone by since I took up the role of Secretary for the Cork Chapter.
I am very grateful for all the help I have received from our Chairman, John Ahern and all members of the Committee.
This is not a Lifetime role and is open to anybody who would be willing to take it on.

Bereavements:

Two of our members sadly died during the year under very unexpected circumstances, Charlie Cullinane on the 21^st July and Maurice Cashman on the 28th October.
Three of our members had family bereavements during the year and we would like to offer our condolences to them:
First we had the very sad passing of Eileen O’Donoghue, Leo’s wife, we all remember her kindly ways and her catering skills every September at their home in Little Island.
P.J. O’Brien’s  father, Peter O’Brien died on the 26^th August and John Ahern’s
Mother-in-law, Margaret (Peggy) Sweeney also died on the 26^th August.
If there were bereavements in other member’s families that we are not aware of, we offer our condolences. 

Events:

Here is a reminder of events that occurred during 2015.
We held 11 Workshops, 3 in member’s own homes, two of which were full day events and the Woodspun Exhibition and Sale in the Old Mill (James O’Neill) in Kinsale.
We also had a day out in Ballycotton and a day out in Lisnavagh Wood in Carlow.

We extend our thanks to all the hosts and demonstrators

         January       Home: Padraig MacAnFhaillghigh

February     School: Peter Manning and Ger Hennessy

         March         School: John Ahern and Jerry Twomey

         April           1day Seminar in Midleton Park Hotel with Mick Hanbury and Philip Mahon visiting Demonstrators ably supported by our own Demonstrators : John Ahern and Peter Manning.

         May            School: Charlie Ryan

June            School: John O’Shea and David Lee

June            Sea Fishing  & Ballycotton Island trip  with Peter Manning

July            Trip to Lisnavagh Woods in Carlow

July            Home: Kieran Higgins

August        No W/S as it clashed with the Woodspun Exhibition and Sale in the Old Mill, Kinsale which was also extended into September, thanks to Tony Farrell.

         September   Home: Tony Farrell

         October       Home: Leo O’Donoghue

         November   School: Brian Goulding and Paddy Lynch

         December    School: Pat Carroll and AGM

We also thank the wives / partners and families of those who held the home Workshops for letting us into their homes and for the wonderful hospitality shown.

We are looking for new demonstrators for the coming year. .
If there are any volunteers for the role of Demonstrator, they can give their names to the Secretary.

This has been a busy and eventful year when we achieved many of the objectives set out at last year's AGM and here I will remind you of some of those objectives.

We started on the 21^st February with free lessons to members. We are grateful to the Demonstrators who gave of their time to this worthwhile venture.

Ger Hennessy came up with a Safety Statement for the Chapter for the School and Home Workshops having put a lot of research into same with Jerry Twomey , Christy FitzPatrick and David Lee.

Dave Lee made up a safety screen for the Lathe which is very effective, no need now to sit out of the line of fire!

We have a copy of Glen Lucas’ video in our Library plus videos of our own Workshops which are on sale for €5.

We had the One Day Seminar on April 18th in the Midleton Park Hotel with outside Demonstrators Mick Hanbury and Philip Mahon.
This event was well supported by the members including our neighbours from Kerry who are always supportive. We got some sponsorship from the National Executive for prizes on the day.
We were well represented by our local Demonstrators John Ahern and Peter Manning.
The event was ably filmed by Bill O’Mahony and Ger Hennessy.
The following day there was a Master Class given by Mick Hanbury at Tony Farrell’s Workshop.

Charlie Ryan travelled from Dublin to give a demonstration at the school on the 16^th May.

On June 24th there was the trip to Ballycotton, ½ day Fishing & ½ day on Ballycotton Island with a meal arranged by Peter Manning in a local Hostelry.

I finally got some jackets from Murray’s of Charleville. They ran out of the most popular sizes but it is open to members to call to Murrays to fit on jackets in the shop.

On the 27th July we had a trip to Lisnavagh Woods in Carlow where we had a demonstration on Bowl Coring by resident Woodturner, Willie McHutcheon.
We ended the day with a meal in Mick Burke’s Hotel in Dungarvan.
Seventeen people went on this trip and we had a very pleasant journey thanks to our driver Michael Pattwell in the Togher Scout’s Bus.

We had over 7 weeks of Woodspun Exhibition and Sale in Old Mill (James O’Neill Building), Kinsale during Cork Craft Month starting on the 7^th August and ending on the 27^th September.
Our thanks to Tony Farrell, Kieran Higgins and to Mars O’Reilly and members of Cork Craft & Design of which we are now an Associate Member, for their help.
I would also like to thank the members who gave of their time to act as Invigilators during the Exhibition.

I finally got the Crests for the Chapter and they are for sale with John O’Shea for €5.

The AGM is even becoming a popular event and this year we had Pat Carroll demonstrating this morning as you are all aware and we would like to continue with this format in 2016.

Cork was well represented at the National Seminar in Dublin, with ten members attending.

The monthly competitions were reasonably well supported this year, some months being better than others.
Christy Fitzpatrick took on the responsibility of competition secretary this year.

Michael Pattwell has ably kept our Facebook Page and our Blog page updated and ensured that the Chapter notes were included in the Journal.

If any of you have an email address or mobile number that are not currently listed and would like to receive notifications by email or text, please give them to the Secretary.

Many members are involved in the setting up the room, preparing tea and coffee and then cleaning up afterwards, so well done to you all for participating.
A big thank you to Marea Power and the people in the school for letting us use their facilities for which we are very grateful. 

Also I congratulate our treasurer, John O’Shea, on his eight successful year in that role and also the role of Membership Secretary.

  

That concludes my report for 2015.

Thank you very much.

Mick Bouchier, Secretary of the Cork Chapter