NO STONE UNTURNED

Stonemason Killian O’Flaherty wants to open up the craft to a whole new generation

Earlier this year, you set up O’Flaherty Stone. How’s business going so far?
It’s going well. The phone is ringing and it looks like there’s plenty of work out there. I have a nice couple of projects on at the moment, but it’s important to get the right kind of work. We’re focusing on conservation and restoration work as that’s our speciality. We offer a range of services including architectural work, hand-crafted and fitted headstones, hand-cut lettering, sculpture work, lime works & pointing and repair work.

How did you get into this sector?
I’m an eighth generation stonemason – my father was a mason and so was his father before him. I’m also from Ballyknockan, often referred to as ‘The Granite Village’ or ‘The Skeleton of Dublin’. When I was a child, I’d be on sites with my father, maybe playing in a sandpile or watching him work. There was never an assumption that I would automatically go into the industry and actually, I spent a year and a half studying architecture before deciding I preferred working with my hands. I ended up working with my father for six months and then an opportunity to work with C McEvoy & Sons Stone Masons came up.

How was that experience?
It was amazing. They were involved in several high profile jobs including refurb work in the Dail, which gave me an opportunity to work on big architectural stonework to a strict deadline. They were also working at Dublin Castle and I was really lucky as the Justice Gate had to be completely redone. I got to do 90% of the stone, which was really tricky as nothing could be cut or tracked with a saw due to its shape. The experience I got at McEvoy’s was second to none. In 2019, I was offered a job in France and had decided to take it. It was another great opportunity but unfortunately, Covid hit and put an end to those plans.

Were you disappointed?
I was disgusted! I had even been learning French. It worked out in the end though and since then, my life has changed; I got married and my wife and I have just had our first baby,Thomas. I set up the business and I’ve been focusing on restoring my workshop. Also, last year I was nominated for craftsperson of the year in the under 30’s category in the SPAB Heritage Awards (Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings). I was the first ever Irish nominee to be put forward for nomination amongst applicants from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I didn’t win but made it to the top four.

Can you tell me about your workshop?
It’s an old building that I bought years ago in Ballyknockan. Built in 1829, it was originally used as an industrial forge purpose-built to cater to the 200 horses and carts that brought stone from Ballyknockan to Dublin. You can see all the old flues along the wall where they would have had the blacksmith stations. Ballyknockan granite quarries are deeply rooted in the stone-cutting history of Ireland since the 1800s; you can’t walk through Dublin without seeing Ballyknockan granite. It’s rumoured locally that the famine never touched the village as granite was such a big industry here. Eventually, the building will be my workshop. It’s a huge undertaking and it’s going to take time to finish, but it’s important that it’s done properly.

You’ve taken on your sister Petra as an apprentice, the first Irish female stonemason in over 30 years. How is she enjoying it?
She absolutely loves it. She’s currently doing the Stone Cutting & Stone Masonry craft apprenticeship at Kerry College and has just started Phase 3. Under Tom Little and his team, the course was re-launched in 2014 and is absolutely fantastic. They have a state-of-the-art facility for stonemasonry and cutting down there and it’s also the only stonecutting and stonemasonry apprenticeship currently running in the country. I’m actually the only stonemason to have completed the course as an apprentice/employee and then go on to take on an apprentice as an employer. I can’t say enough good things about the course. It’s given Petra so much knowledge and confidence.

What advice would you give a person thinking about doing the course?
I’d say go for it. Now is the best time to be a stonemason. In recent years, there’s been a huge resurgence in the craft. I was able to take Petra on because the work is there and I’m hoping that when she qualifies in three years, I’ll be able to take on another. People are much more aware of the importance of stone and of using Irish stone in particular. In my opinion, importing Chinese granite has damaged this country in several ways. Take a look at the Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin – when compared to some of the buildings you pass on the Quays, there’s just no comparison when it comes to quality. It looks like Styrofoam that’s been painted grey! Thankfully, there’s more awareness now that by opting for Irish granite, customers can be sure they’re getting a high-quality product that’s both unique and long-lasting.

What are your ambitions for the business?
I’d love to be able to take on another apprentice in three years. Right now, it’s all about getting the work in, continuing the workshop restoration and trying to make a profit. I’d love to see more people getting into the industry. On a daily basis I have people saying to me, I didn’t think you could get this type of stuff in Ireland anymore. It’s heartbreaking to hear it. We Irish have a longstanding history of being great with our hands. I believe Irish stonemasons are terrific problem solvers. We can come into a job, identify the problem and get to work solving it. As a people we haven’t lost that ability, so I think there’s great potential there for Irish people to become great stonemasons.

‘There are so many avenues you can go down as a stonemason’

Petra O’Flaherty has just started phase 3 of the Stone Cutting & Stone Masonry craft apprenticeship at Kerry College. “I was in Tralee for six months in the workshop learning from Tom Little, who is a genius when it comes to stone cutting. It was an amazing experience, but I was also keen to get back to work.” Like her brother, Petra would have accompanied her father on jobs when she was a child. “I have a memory of being at St Matthew’s Church in Ballyfermot. My dad was building a grotto and I was beside him, building a mini version. I go past the church now and wonder why it took me so long to realise this was the career for me.”

After leaving school, Petra did a PLC course in nursing. “Killian and my dad were working on a building quite close to our house. I started taking days off college to help them, I couldn’t take my mind off it. I really enjoyed nursing too, but not to the same extent. I ended up asking Killian if I could work with him for a few days to see how it went and haven’t looked back since.”

Petra is the first registered female stonemason in Ireland in over 30 years. “I’m very proud of that. It’s a shame that there aren’t more women going for it. When I was in school, apprenticeships weren’t talked about to any great extent. I think that’s slowly changing, but it’s not fast enough.” Although Petra would like to travel and use her skills in other countries, she has no plans to go out on her own just yet. “I think myself and Killian make a good team so for now, I’m happy to keep learning and keep working. There are so many avenues you can go down as a stonemason; I need to figure out what suits me best.” The creative side of the business is what Petra particularly enjoys. “When I’m working on a piece of stone, I’m completely absorbed in it. I’ve always been an artistic person so being able to put that to good use is great. I also really enjoy fitting big pieces of stone. When I was younger, I’d be in the car with Killian and my dad and they’d point out all these great jobs they had worked on. I’ve started to do that now, which is so satisfying.”

For more information on the Stone Cutting & Stone Masonry Apprenticeship, go to
https://kerrycollege.ie/apprenticeships/stone-cutting-stone-masonry/

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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE