Battle of the Blacksmiths 2025

The heat was on in Banagher this July as Forged in Ireland returned for the third year to host the Battle of the Blacksmiths as part of the That Beats Banagher Festival. Set along the banks of the Shannon, the ring of anvils and roar of forges once again drew a strong crowd, eager to watch traditional skills tested under pressure.

This year brought a truly international flavour to the competition. We were delighted to welcome members of the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABA), alongside smiths travelling from across Europe to take part. The mix of styles, techniques and experience added a new energy to the day and raised the standard across the board.

The Battle of the Blacksmiths was decided over three technical challenges designed to test accuracy, control and speed:

“Let’s Stick Together” – Competitors scarf welded two pieces of 12mm square stock, demonstrating precision fire management and clean hammer control.

“Round to Round” – Smiths forged a section of 16mm round bar down to 10mm, requiring consistency and careful measurement.

“If in Doubt, Draw it Out!” – A crowd favourite: a 45-second timed trial from the moment the steel left the fire to draw it out as long as possible. Sparks flew and margins were tight.

After an intense and closely fought competition, the 2025 results were:

• 1st - Jordan Thomas (FABA)
• 2nd - James O’Riordan
• 3rd - Nathan Nettles (FABA)
• 4th - Jack Lawlor

A standout moment of the weekend was a spectacular demonstration by Michael Budd, who forged a striking dragon head before the crowd. Sharing his precision techniques, controlled hammer work and specialist tooling methods, he transformed raw steel into a detailed and expressive work of art - a masterclass in both craftsmanship and creativity.

Alongside the competitions and demonstrations, visitors enjoyed heritage talks, bog iron smelting, and the wider festival atmosphere that makes Banagher one of the highlights of our calendar each year.

Battle of the Blacksmiths 2025 showcased not only technical excellence, but the camaraderie and shared passion that keeps traditional blacksmithing thriving - locally and internationally.