Regular visitors get to see all the spectacle of our Furnace Festival from behind the safety barriers and get to learn about our Irish iron and the history of iron production in Ireland through the free guided tours of our Open Air Museum.

But, this year, you can join the smelting and forging teams inside the working areas and experience the magic of Irish iron from close-by! Or you can even become an iron smelter. If you are interested in our options below, or want more information, do not hesitate to contact [email protected]​ (and do check your spam for replies, this is a new email account) or phone Paul on 085 1239550. Booking for the Schools and Workshop is required!

The options are 4-hour School or smelting training by Jens Jørgen Olesen

The Furnace Festival School

​After a detailed tour of our Open Air Museum, you will join a smelting team and smelt your own iron from its ore while carrying out some tasks. After this, you can check out other smelting teams which will be doing different experiments.  You will also visit the forging area where experienced blacksmiths are forging the freshly made objects into objects of art and practical use. Many will be forging replicas of objects found during archaeological excavation at Caherconnell Fort. Here too, you can join a forging group and learn about ancient blacksmithing techniques. The Schools are loosely organised and based on your wishes.

On Sunday, between 10.00 and 14.00 and possibly later, School participants can also enjoy a demonstration by acclaimed heritage blacksmith Rowan Taylor, who will be forging a replica of an Irish Iron Age axe from freshly made bloomery iron. He will explain step-by-step while he works. Every 4-hour School participants gets a piece of bloomery iron to take home.

Saturday  14.00 to 18.00 and Sunday, 10.00 to 14.00 or 14.00 to 18.00

Practical
Cost: 125 euro. Additionally, you will need to pay admission to Caherconnell Fort.

Children aged 16 or younger need to be accompanied by an adult. Safety shoes and non-synthetic clothing will be required.

Smelting training by Jens Jørgen Olesen (8 hours)
Jens is one of, if not the, best bloomery iron smelters in Europe. During your training course, you will do two full smelts under Jens' tuition. Skills acquired include record keeping, smelting different types of ore and dealing with any problems during the smelt. At the end of your course, you will have the skills to make your own iron! You will also leave the Festival with apart of the bloom which you have made yourself. No experience required!!

Practical
The smelting training lasts a full day (8 hours, from 10.00 to 18.00), on Sunday (Saturday is fully booked).

Cost: 300 euro/course. Additionally, you will need to become a Friend of the Festival (25 euro) and pay admission to Caherconnell Fort. Lunch and drinks are included.

Over 16s only. Safety shoes will be required.