The Blacksmiths Ball
by Master Blacksmiths
Artwork created during a 'forge in' – a gathering of master blacksmiths from all over Ireland and the United Kingdom, organised by Joe Bonnar, Bonnar Engineering, Letterkenny, British Artistic Blacksmiths Association BABA, Irish Association of Master Blacksmiths, Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Donegal County Council Arts Office and Letterkenny Town Council who were presented with the artwork and who organised installation. The forge fires were made by FAS. The 'forge in' itself began with the lighting of the fires at 6.30am and blacksmiths worked throughout the day creating their own pieces that would be welded together to form the artwork. The work includes a thistle a harp and horseshoe amongst other icons. The spheres/spikes were also created on the day and the finished pieced was installed the next day.
The Blacksmiths Ball, 1991
Designed by Master Blacksmith Alan Dawson and produced in a day by a gathering of master blacksmiths from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France and even one master blacksmith from Japan. The Blacksmiths Ball is 2 metres high and 1 metre in diameter
is made from forged steel and is located at The Courthouse Square, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
