Hi, my name is
Thomas..

I'm the business owner at The Old Forge.
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Come and enjoy all we have to offer; hot food, cakes, ice cream, hot drinks, Art, Culture and more. 

Relax in the classic atmosphere of this historic building, it's a stunning example of a Forge and one of the few left in Ireland.

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1800's

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Originally The Old Forge was the centre of all things relating to metal and the hub of the town for those who employed horses to work farms and transport goods locally.  It was privately owned and the workplace for three generations of Blacksmiths all from the same local family.

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1900's

Late 1900's
The Forge was being used as an engineering workshop as much of the Blacksmith's role had been replaced by modern industry.

Jack Gillespie, like his father and grandfather before him, was a skilled craftsman blacksmith, who carried on his trade at the smithy now known as 'The Old Forge' in John Street.​

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​Indeed, at one time all three generations worked there together under one roof. In addition to shoeing horses and making and repairing farm implements for local farmers he also looked after the horses of the Shane's Castle Estate.

A hard worker all his days, who often had his forge lit by 4.30am, his beautiful decorative work can still be seen in the ornamental gates he made for the Old Congregation Presbyterian Church.

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2000's

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2004
The building was later renovated and became a Cafe.

​2018
The footpaths were upgraded and extended adding to it's beauty and Historic character.

2019
The building had decorative work carried out on the exterior and many of the original features renewed and upgraded along with the addition of modern signage above the door.

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