RTÉ documentary series exploring the craft traditions of Ireland. hands.ie/ Berney Brothers of Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. Filmed in 1981. www.berneybros... (Apologies for poor quality towards the end. Copied from an old VHS recording.)
I worked for many years in Berney’s we had a bit of fun when the hands programs was recorded It was done in 1981. Declan passed away later that year it was a sad time he was very skilled with the needle and thread. A lot of the staff have moved on since 1981 but it was a good place to work many changes since then.
Declan and Brendon are my Uncles, I remember my father getting the news of the "Dec lad" passing. It is great to see skilled artisans are still around in this disposable digital age.
Many, many thanks for this valuable film. I am a saddle and harness maker and teacher in Hungary. This video is very useful for my students about the older technologies. Nowadays when the saddle industry use pneumatic staple machines instead of nails, modern special sawing machines almost every assembly operations and wide range of synthetic materials (composite saddle trees, webbings, threads etc.). I wonder when this film has been made? I suppose that in 1970’s.
Tamás Sápi I was in the hands program it was made in 1981 there is very few of the staff still working there Declan lost his life later that year it Was a sad time
i was surprised at the use of the synthetic stuffing, but it may be a matter of practicality vs cost. as a spinner of yarn for knitting, i occasionally buy a whole sheep's fleece. i am constantly reminded in those situations that any bits of the wool i discard in the cleaning/prepping process can go directly into a compost pile, where it will break down quite easily. the synthetic stuff, by contrast, will probably be around for a few hundred years... or longer.
My Grandfathers cousin One called Dan was a saddler in 1800's and his big sewing machine is still in the family today. A rare trade. Thank you for an interesting video.
Loved it! I didn't realise what an intricate process it is to make saddles and bridles, yet they make it look so easy! May they have horses in heaven - and a special place for saddle makers!
My oldest uncle sent some old tack with his youngest sister into town one day, a few days ago now... she was going to the local hardware store and he suggested that this new stuff was just worn out and needed replacing! She came home with new replacements too! It was my Godfather who worked in the hardware store. There were lots of pranks being pulled in those days, on my Grandparents dairy farm. Grandpa set me up on top of one of the horses {Tom and Jerry} who was pulling the harvest one day as I was too afraid to ride with the other kids on top of the big wagon of loose hay. I was so small on my first horse ride that my legs stuck straight out on both sides of this huge horse! Stooks set near the house were my personal Tee Pees that year. Life was truly simple a few days ago.
Excellent! As a seamstress and a lover of beautiful leather works and a lover of horses I could not take my eyes off of this. Such precision is magnificent!
That was so interesting to watch. I was surprised to see the basic bridle had the bit sewn in! Therefore changing the bit wasn't possible! I thought that odd as not all horses like or go well in the same sort of bit. A well made saddle is absolutely essential to the horse and rider. It must fit the horse well and be as comfy as an armchair for the rider. I enjoyed watching the saddlers using their tools with ease and precision. Beautiful work.
The fox hunt reminds me of the Bugs Bunny carton with the huge cloud of hounds running through the fields and the men on horseback chasing along...I love dogs and horses...I’m glad they give the Fox a chance to live now...
My Great great Grandfather was John Shipley , harness and saddle maker to the King 181 Regent Street London .So much imported poor quality leather goods today .
Now that was a fine film , you see some programs that just give you the idea but this was warts and all including the finger with a plaster on , I should think there's a few of them . Great video 👍🇬🇧
Bloody good work. Long may your trade continue to be passed on to the younger people. I now know what Suzy Fletcher, from the repair shop actually did.
Tabourba What a stupid comment. Foxes are wild animals, they go instinct and know no better, unlike us supposedly intelligent animals, who should know better. As intelligent humans, we should know how to protect our animals from foxes, but then again, it’s cheaper and more fun to kill the fox and replace any animals they have killed, isn’t it?!
@@elvis459 How'd you get so soft? You wouldn't make it long without all of the modern tech that makes it possible to be that way. Surprised you didn't complain about the leather too.
Dan Hillman I’m soft because I recognise that foxes are wild animals as apposed to humans who are intelligent? How you arrive at that conclusion is beyond me!
