Museum of the Master  Saddler

The exhibits in the museum, together with a saddlery demonstration are available on an outreach basis.  Please enquire.

DATES FOR 2009

Sunday 17 May

CORLOUGH CULTURAL DAY 

This event will be held in association with the Corlough Development Committee at the village hall and is part of the Irish Museums Association's Catch Up On Culture Week.

Our museum will be there with;

• Display of ladies side saddles
• Set show farm harness for a pony
• Handstitching demonstration

This event will also be the official launch of this new web site and our new publishing company.

Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 May

Castlebar

Details to follow.

 OPEN WEEKEND 29 & 30 AUGUST 2009

The Museum of the Master Saddler has recently unveiled its program for this years European Heritage Week.  This years theme at the museum is “Harness Horse Decoration” which will host the official opening of the museum’s latest collection of exhibits in addition to the launch of the latest book by its curator Robert H Steinke which is based on this theme.  Included in the new collection will be horse amulets from Roman and Medieval times, the forerunners of what we today recognise as horse brasses.  Brasses and martingales range from the antique brasses of the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s, the heyday of their use, up to the collectable designs of today.  A special section will document saddlers and harness makers whose names were often engraved on brass hinged noseband pieces, pad ornaments, drop pieces and metal buckle loops.

Rob and Moira will incorporate several of their animals into the weekends activity  Their two miniature ponies, Rocky and Rambo, will be seen in their red trimmed tandem  trade harness, while the latest addition to the stables, Sambooka, will come out of retirement to act as a mature model.  The star of the show could well be Mr. Tibbs, their part Clydesdale cob who will no doubt be adorned with an array of highly decorated farm harness.