Watch a local blacksmith at work in new video
Photo: Ernie Hatton shows his skills to the fourth generation of Hattons.
The Mount Temple Holy Trinity Graveyard Group launched its third heritage video recently to coincide with National Heritage Week 2020 and to date, it has received over 2.3k views.
Chairman of the group Cllr Frankie Keena stated that this video focuses solely on the Hatton Family, who for three generations have provided an excellent blacksmith service to the local community.
The stories told by Ernie and George Hatton in the video will rekindle the memories of many people who brought their horses, donkeys, farm machinery, etc to this forge to be looked after.
"Coming from a farming background I also remember the visit to this forge and the marvellous yarns and stories told," he said.
Thanks to some funding received last year from Creative Ireland/Westmeath County Council, the group were in a position to create four heritage videos covering sites in the Mount Temple & Baylin areas. These videos can be viewed on online Facebook platform Mount Temple Baylin Heritage Group (MTB).
In creating the video at the forge Ernie & Betty Hatton warmly welcomed the crew into their home which consisted of Eoin Sullivan, archaeologist, and video production company Bailey & Blake. It was also great that Westmeath County Council’s Heritage Officer was also present. The morning for shooting was beautiful and the forge looked amazing as the crew were shown the skill of a blacksmith at work.
Jonathon Donohue, also a member of the group stated that this video shows the importance of the forge to the Baylin and Moydrum areas in days gone by and how much Ernie and George are such amazing ambassadors for local heritage with all the work they are doing.
In conclusion, Cllr Frankie Keena thanked the ongoing voluntary work of the Graveyard group and added that like our previous productions this blacksmith video is available to all schools as an educational resource to brief students about our local industrial heritage.