Maureen O’Sullivan Outside Larkin's Forge
Maureen O’Sullivan Outside Larkin's Forge
Maureen O’Sullivan Outside Larkin's Forge
William 'Billy' Larkin was the last blacksmith in the forge. He is pictured in the photograph on the right with the famous actress Maureen O'Sullivan. She starred in the early Tarzan films and lived close by in Killiney. She kept several horses, and always went to Billy to have the horses shod. The two became great friends.
Larkin’s Forge in the 1950s
By kind permission of the Larkin Family.
Larkin’s Forge in the 1950s
By kind permission of the Larkin Family.
By kind permission of the Larkin Family.
Larkin’s Forge in the 1950s
By kind permission of the Larkin Family.
We can see Billy again in the photograph on the left, stooped over filing a horse's hoof. Standing next to him with the hammer is 'Ter' Delaney, and standing next to the horse is 'Mixer' Mulvaney. The child is either Mixer's son or one of the Larkin children. Both of these photos were taken around the early 1950s.
The forge was kept going during the Emergency, but as transport by horse gave way to cars and trucks, it became increasingly difficult to keep the place going. Although Mr Larkin continued to work as a blacksmith with the Board of Works, eventually the sound of hammer on hot iron would no longer be heard at Larkin's forge.
The forge was kept going during the Emergency, but as transport by horse gave way to cars and trucks, it became increasingly difficult to keep the place going. Although Mr Larkin continued to work as a blacksmith with the Board of Works, eventually the sound of hammer on hot iron would no longer be heard at Larkin's forge.