Culture Night 2023: Medieval Bell Casting

A brief break in the relentless rain for the afternoon on Culture Night 2023 gave us a chance to demonstrate Medieval bronze casting techniques to an audience of over twenty people here in South Kerry. During the six-hour workshop we heated five full 3kg crucibles in quick succession and poured a total of five Medieval Irish Handbells, based on 10th/11th C. artefacts - and a rubber duck... We revived last year’s charcoal furnace, burn-out and casting pits which all still proved to be in great condition. Some of the bells will form part of an exhibition based on the monastic sites of South Kerry.

The event was supported by The Arts Council and Kerry County Council