Battle of the Blacksmiths 2026

What a weekend!

That Beats Banagher 2026 once again brought together blacksmiths, bladesmiths, artists, farriers and visitors from across Ireland and beyond for an unforgettable celebration of traditional craft. With forges blazing all weekend, incredible demonstrations, fierce competitions and plenty of laughs along the way, it was another fantastic event from start to finish.

The atmosphere around the site was buzzing, with visitors getting the chance to see blacksmithing, iron smelting and bladesmithing up close while chatting with some of the finest craftspeople around.

Iron Art That Stopped People in Their Tracks

One of the biggest talking points throughout the weekend was the spectacular Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association (IABA) iron art exhibition.

The large-scale sculptures created by John Hogan, Colm Bagnall, Stephen Quin, Leeside Forge, Mark Dylan and Arthur Rigolot drew crowds all weekend. Every piece showcased incredible craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detail, leaving visitors genuinely impressed by the standard of work on display.

Battle of the Blacksmiths

This year's Battle of the Blacksmiths challenged competitors across five very different tests of skill:

• 🌹 Forge a Russian Rose
• 🍺 Forge a functional bottle opener
• 🍃 Forge three identical leaves
• 🔪 Make a blacksmith's knife
• 🍻 And finally... open and enjoy a beer using the bottle opener they had forged earlier!

The quality of work produced across every challenge was outstanding. Every competitor brought their best, making the judges work hard to separate the entries.

A huge congratulations to Jeremy Stanley, crowned Battle of the Blacksmiths Champion 2026!

Bladesport Arrives in Banagher!

This year also marked the debut of our very first Bladesport Competition, and what a way to kick it off!

Competitors tested not only the sharpness of their blades but also their speed, accuracy and stamina through a series of demanding cutting challenges. Every competitor rose to the occasion, putting on a fantastic display for the crowd.

Congratulations to our inaugural Bladesport Champion, Nathan Featherstone!

Artist Blacksmith Competition

This year's theme was wonderfully simple:

Anything Goes!

The only rules? No bottle openers... and no ram's heads!

The response was incredible.

The standard of entries was simply staggering, with every piece demonstrating remarkable imagination, design and technical skill. It was clear to everyone viewing the exhibition just how much talent was gathered in Banagher.

Congratulations to Gerard Loughran (IABA) of Ballyniss Forge, Newry, whose magnificent Viking Ship "Draken" sailed away with first place. Featuring a beautifully beaten copper sail and an astonishing level of detail throughout the hull, it was a truly deserving winner.

Golden Anvil Challenge

This year's Golden Anvil challenge, designed by Jeremy Stanley, put competitors' farrier forging skills to the test with a highly technical challenge that pushed many outside their usual comfort zone.

It proved to be a brilliant test of precision, technique and problem-solving, with competitors embracing the challenge throughout the day.

Congratulations to Sean "Mex" Dunwoodie of Never Again Forge, Armagh, who claimed the overall title, and to Sean Tarnawski, winner of the Junior category.

Forging in Memory of Kieran Keenaghan

One of the most meaningful moments of the weekend was the commemorative iron smelt held in memory of Kieran Keenaghan, organiser of That Beats Banagher and a passionate supporter of blacksmiths and traditional iron smelting.

Using locally sourced iron ore, an iron bloom was successfully smelted, refined and forged over the course of the weekend in Kieran's honour. It was a fitting tribute to someone whose enthusiasm, generosity and support helped make events like this possible and whose legacy continues to inspire the blacksmithing community.

Thank You!

A huge thank you goes to the organisers of That Beats Banagher, all the volunteers, demonstrators, competitors and everyone who came along to watch, ask questions and support traditional blacksmithing.

Congratulations to every competitor who took part over the weekend. The standard of craftsmanship across every competition was exceptional, and it was fantastic to see so many people sharing ideas, learning new skills and enjoying each other's company.

We'll see you all again next year for even more fire, forging and fantastic memories!