Join us for a weekend of reconnection to craft, iron ore smelting and smithing, heritage farming, biodiverse land, traditional home life and local history. Including the Glenravel Furnace Festival, see smelters from all corners take iron ore from the Glenravel hills, build mud furnaces from the earth under our feet and smelt iron using the ancient method and new for 2026 Forged In Irelands first Northern Ireland Blacksmiths Forge-In, a collection of some of the best blacksmiths from across the country demonstrating traditional forging techniques

Folk Wisdom - Our way back, is about inspiring and engaging our community to celebrate the old ways and in doing so, to reimagine a healthy and sustainable future. It incorporates the six strands of CRAFT: hands on traditional skills and cottage industries, FARM: heritage farming crops, breeds and methods, HOME: traditional property restoration skills, LAND: care for our environment, undoing decades of damage, LIFE: rediscovering the natural health and social wellbeing of a simpler time and STORY: capturing the history of the places, people and activities we discover along the way.

Smelting iron from iron ore is up there with discovery of fire and invention of the wheel in terms of the progression of humanity, so much so there was an entire era of history (The Iron Age) named after it! Foundational to every strand of Folk Wisdom, from the tools for the craft, the implements for the farm, the materials for the buildings and pots for inside them. The Glenravel Furnace Festival and the Northern Forge-In will pay fitting tribute to that heritage, right in the heart of what was once the centre of iron ore mining in the North of Ireland.

Call in from 12pm on Saturday 30th May or Sunday 31st May to see these ancient skills in action and much more:

TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND CRAFT WORKSHOPS: Over the weekend we will host a selection of hands on skills and crafts workshops with expert crafts people. You will learn basic principles and skills, get hands on with the tools and materials and maybe even create your first of many crafted items to take home with you. Read more about these workshops below. With limited spaces, click the 'Book My Place' button now to pre-book tickets and secure your place. Workshops restricted to over 16s only.

HERITAGE FARM AND CRAFT TRAIL: Featuring the Ulster Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers at work, local crafters displays and demonstrations, traditional farming demonstrations including flax scutching, stone wallstead restoration works, heritage farm tours taking in flax, oat, potato and willow crops, rare-breed jacob sheep, and the RSPB's peatland restoration team on hand.

ART EXHIBITION: Browse a selection of oil paintings, watercolours, and sketches from the very talented members of the local Glenravel Art Club

GLENRAVEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY - Drop in at the Ceili House: Anyone with an ancestral connection to Glenravel looking into their family trees or anyone with an interest in the history and heritage of the area are more than welcome to call in and have a chat with local experts. Or just stop in for a while by the open fire in the traditional restored Ceili House cottage full of artifacts and displays.

For more information or to enquire about coming along as a crafter to display, demonstrate or teach, click here: Enquire here

We hope to see you there

Workshops:

Wool Spinning Workshop

Learn how to prepare and spin sheep’s fleece into yarn. You will use hand carders to prepare and blend washed fleece into rolags. Using modern wheels, you will turn your rolags into yarn. We’ll introduce coloured fibres and you will ply two yarns together to create a skein to take home with you. This workshop will take place under cover but in the open air so please wear suitable clothing. Tea and coffee will be provided but please bring a packed lunch. To book your space click the Book My Place button above, Saturday the 30th May from 11am until 4pm.

Stone Wall Restoration Workshop

This full day workshop will look at all aspects of approaching derelict wallsteads, evaluating the options for preservation and restoration as well as the basics of construction and the often overlooked but critical, lime mortar. The workshop will be delivered by expert stone mason and heritage skills qualified Nathan Morrow of The Rock Stone Masonry. Saturday 30th May from 10am to 4pm

Wild Flower Pottery Workshop

Gather wild flowers and grasses from the hedgerows at Willow & Lore then create your design by pressing these into a slab of soft clay. Eithne will guide you through creating a decorative plaque for the wall. You will then use the same technique to form a slab built vessel. All of your work will be fired and glazed by Eithne in her own workshop and returned to you once finished. This workshop will take place under cover but in the open air so please wear suitable
clothing. Aprons will be provided. Click the Book My Place button above to secure your spot - Saturday 30th May, 2pm until 4pm.

Smelting Apprenticing

Join the team of experienced smelters for the weekend, work alongside them to prepare the clay and build mud furnaces. Learn by doing, helping to prep the ore and charcoal and fire up the furnace. Assist in charging the furnace and managing the smelts and move around between the different furnaces with different ores and approaches. Friday 29th, Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st, 10am to 5pm. This is a fantastic and rare opportunity to learn this skill but has some specific requirements, email tenthglenhf@outlook.com to express an interest in the opportunity, providing a contact number and the team will be in touch.

From Farm to Frame - Needle Felting Workshop

A needle felting workshop with Donna Hardy of Soulscapes. Using dyed wool and specialised needles, Donna will guide participants to create their own landscape inspired by the countryside of the Glens of Antrim. You will take away a piece of art mounted and ready to frame. All materials and equipment supplied, but due to sharp points we have to say, “over 18’s only”. This workshop will take place under cover but in the open air so please wear suitable
clothing. Tea and coffee will be provided but please bring a packed lunch. To book your space click the Book My Place button above, Saturday the 30th May from 11am until 4pm.

Mindful Drumming Circle

We'll gather in rhythm, intention, and presence, ‎allowing the drums to guide us into connection, grounding and shared energy. Beginners welcome. To book your space click the Book My Place button above, Sunday the 31st May from 2pm until 3pm.