FOCUS ON EXTERIORS
How did you become a stonemason? I was farming cattle up until my early 30s, but I’ve always had an artistic yearning - the desire to create something beautiful. When my late father, John, dared me to build two stone pillars at my house, I laughed at him at first, but then decided to give it a go. Those first two pillars were terrible! I’ve since knocked them down and started from scratch. But a few people saw what I had done and asked me to do some small stonework jobs for them, and it snowballed from there. I was suddenly earning more from building than farming. It was never about the money, but it seemed to be a better idea to spend my time doing something I really loved. I still have some cattle, but nothing to the degree I had before. I’ve been full time on the stone for three years now. I learnt everything the hard way, by myself. But you do learn fast. The chiseling skill all comes with practice. The main thing is having an eye to know what looks good. You either have that ability, or you don’t. What’s the hardest part of the job? Physically, it can be very demanding. I try to keep myself as fit as possible by lifting weights and doing a lot of cardio. My friend, who is also a mason, started yoga to help his back, so I might try that next! The weather can be tough, but you just need to be properly prepared for it. In the cold weather I wear thick gloves, leggings WE CHAT TO SELF-TAUGHT STONEMASON EMMET MCGIRR FROM TRILLICK, CO. TYRONE, ABOUTWHAT INSPIRED HIM TO TAKE UP THE HAMMER AND CHISEL AND HOWMASONRY HAS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS... Written in stone
Emmet McGirr of Vintage Stoneworks, on-site at his latest project on the banks of the River Erne, Enniskillen.
46 | NI BUILDER
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