Clonmel mourns master farrier Ted Channon
A true Clonmel character was laid to rest this week following the death of master farrier Ted Channon.
Ted, of Anglesea Street, Clonmel, passed away suddenly last Friday. On Tuesday afternoon the town centre came to standstill while his plumed, horse-drawn hearse carried his remains to his final resting place.
Born in England, Ted moved to the Old Bridge area of Clonmel, and did his training as a farrier in Cork. He worked in many places before settling in Clonmel, including Doon, Athlone, North Tipperary, and Lynch's Forge in The Nire.
He first set up his Anglesea Street business on November 5, 1955 ( 5-5-55) at first renting the premises from CIE before later buying it. He ran a successful business and loved his work.
He lay in repose at the forge in advance of his funeral.
As well as his work as a blacksmith and master farrier, Ted was known to fix prams or bicycles. Fifty years ago, when a town blacksmith was an essential service, Ted would not only have shod horses but built and repaired iron latches and hinges, gates and agricultural machinery.
At his funeral mass in Ss Peter and Paul's parish church at lunchtime on Tuesday, mourners recalled how Ted was very good to the poor. He made many church gates and in Ss Peter and Paul's the holder for the Advent wreath, which will be placed on the altar in the approach to Christmas, was also his craftwork.
Ted's death marks the end of an era, his funeral was told.
Fr Brendan Crowley, who celebrated the funeral mass, quoted to the congregation from a poem called 'The Village Blacksmith' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
"Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought."
Ted is survived by his wife Mary, their children Kathleen, Madeline, Edward, Joseph, Annemarie, Christopher and Ian, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, relatives and friends.
Burial took place in St. Patrick's cemetery following the funeral mass.
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Weather for Clonmel
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
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