The Leitrim Chair is a traditional Irish Hedge Chair last produced by John Surlis in the 1980s. John was a skilled carpenter who mastered a craft that had been in his family for 400 years, distinctly traceable for 6 generations. His family were originally Coopers who branched out into other forms of woodwork including chair making.

John was featured in “Hands” an Irish television documentary series broadcast by RTE between 1978 and 1989, covering traditional Irish craft:

“John Surlis’s skill as a chairmaker is inherited from his grandfather, a native of Co. Leitrim. Based in the little village of Monasteraden, Co. Sligo, we watch John making a traditional ash wood Leitrim Chair in the slab and stick method. He uses the ‘beetle’ or cleaver to split the rungs and legs, and shapes them using a drawknife sitting astride his Cooper’s Mare. As a versatile craftsman, John also makes traditional donkey straddles & Sugáns, or twisted straw ropes. Made in 1980.”

This documentary has been a great resource for me as a Traditional Irish Hedge Carpenter, a programme that I have watched many times over and each time I watch it I learn something new. John left a great legacy in this archive for future generations.

With the Leitrim Chair, John won the prestigious Worlds Crafts Council Award in 1974 after being encouraged to enter by Dr Muriel Gahan who was an Irish Rural Campaigner and a promoter of traditional crafts.

Stephen Ryan from Green Woodwork Ireland will teach you the skills needed to produce your own Leitrim Chair using the same traditional techniques as John used during his life. This workshop will allow you to practice an ancient form of woodcraft that was once widespread across the country, a craft that has long since disappeared from our woodlands and workshops.

During this 4-day workshop, you will use traditional tools and equipment such as the Shave Horse, Scotch Eyed Auger, Drawknife, Froe, Spokeshave, Tenon Cutter, Cabinet Scraper and much more to produce a chair that can be used and admired in the home as well as being a focal point for visitors.

you will learn how to cleave and shape wood that will then be assembled using round mortise and tenon’s secured with Oak wedges, typical of old Irish furniture, completed with a finish of linseed oil and beeswax.

This course is suited to all levels including complete beginners. As you will be working in a workshop environment, sturdy footwear is important. A good pair of boots is ideal and if you happen to have steel toe caps this would be even better. Open-toed or low-cut footwear is not suitable and may mean you cannot participate in the workshop. The tutor will supply safety gloves but if you have your own tight-fitting safety gloves feel free to bring them along, these safety measures are to protect your hands and feet from cuts and to protect your feet from sharp and heavy tools and equipment being dropped. You must be aged 16 or over to attend this class. All tools and materials are supplied. Workshop times are 10.00am to 6.00pm.

Please keep in mind that some of the workshop tasks can be a bit physical, but help will be on hand if you find any of the tasks challenging.

The workshop will be held at the Green Woodwork Ireland Workshop, Minnowburn. Workshops are non-refundable and non-transferable.