Michael Quirke – The Woodcarver

I called in to see Michael Quirke the woodcarver the other day in his shop in Wine Street, Sligo. He really is a lovely man, he always has time for a chat and has many a tale to tell.

Michael used to be a butcher but woodcarving was his love. For years he combined the two until in 1988 he decided to stick to the woodcarving.

As I was talking to Michael, his wife Eithne came in. She’s a lovely woman and was telling me I was lucky to only have to listen to Michael for a short while, she has to listen to him all the time 😉 She’s equally as charming as he is and was telling me the story of her brother who was swimming in the sea. She was watching him and could see seals swimming along side him. When he returned to the shore he was complained at how rude the locals were….he said he was talking to the ‘men’ swimming with him and they never answered him!!! The poor man didn’t realise they were seals!

Michael was telling me about climbing Knocknarea and about bringing a small stone to through up to Queen Maeves cairn for luck and to wish her well. He said the Ulster men would through up a big stone to make sure she stayed there!

As we were talking Michael was making me a woodcarving of a seal to remember my trip to Inishmurray. On the back of my carving is my name and Knocknarea, it was very kind of him.

I was telling Michael that I’ve often been asked by visitors to Ireland how to see a leprechaun. I usually tell them to have a couple of pints and they might see them that way 😉 Michael was telling me that you will never see a leprechaun but you might hear one. Contrary to popular belief he said they are tinsmiths not cobblers. He told me next time I’m  climbing a mountain or near a cave to listen out and if I hear hammering that’s a leprechaun….but because mountains and caves have echos I’ll never know which direction the leprechaun is in.

If you are ever in Sligo do call in and see Michael. He will tell you some great myths and legends and what better gift to bring someone then one of his wonderful carvings.