Laois great grandad making incredible wooden horse sculptures
Secrets hidden inside latest creation by Emo's Charlie Burke
A Laois great grandad makes the most incredible huge wooden horses, and his latest holds a special secret.
Emo man Charlie Burke, who turned 83 in April, is a retired carpenter and former Portlaoise taxi business owner.
With sons Declan and Kieran carrying on the family carpentry tradition in his home workshop, Charlie now spends his time alongside them making timber crafts as his hobby.
Charlie and Kathy Burke with some of the wooden models and puzzles he has made.
His first full size horse was a gift for Kathy, calling it Katcha.
"I finished it in about the year 2000. I exhibited him in the Tullamore Show, the ploughing championships, in Trim, in Emo Court, but I got tired of bringing him around. He is hollow, we wrote an account of local events at the time on a sheet of paper inside, like the new Emo school being built," he said.
Standing 16 and a half hands high - or 5'6 to its withers, it is made of glossy mahogany. Katcha is now stabled safely in the workshop.
Katcha meeting actual horses.
The second horse is under construction, this time made of layers of thick plywood.
"I made a small one from plywood, and saw how it brought out the layers of colour in the wood. I thought it would be nice to do it full size. It's not rocket science," a modest Charlie said.
Charlie Burke with his second full size horse under construction.
It is still in progress and he expects to spend hundreds of hours working on it.
Charlie with his plywood horse under construction, and in the background the timber template, decorated with pinecones.
Inside this horse is also hollow and it has been filled as a family time capsule, with his children Teresa, Fiona, Deirdre, Cathal, Kieran and Declan all adding their own messages, as well as all 15 grandchildren. The couple also have two great grandchildren.
"All the family have put bits and pieces in, photos, letters, newspapers, the Leinster Express has gone in there too. Our neighbour Jimmy Kelliher put coins in. The tail isn't done yet if we want to post in anything more at the back," Charlie said.
He is following advice by Mountmellick artisan painter and Paint Store owner Con Farrell on the finish.
"Con recommended rather than varnish, using a special oil, to let the timber breathe. It's very expensive, he said he used it on the Aga Khan's stables."
"They found one later, standing outside the Pint O'Port pub in Portarlington, they took them for the craic I suppose. They were broken several times too, we used to trim the grass around them," Charlie recalled.
Charlie with a model car he made for his daughter Teresa.
The toys and puzzles are given as family gifts.
John and Kathleen Sullivan with their table made by Charlie Burke.
One lovely commission is a table made out of a slice of a 100 year old Lawson Cypress from Ross House in Oughterard. The base is made from a charred oak whiskey barrel, turned inside out.
"It was a commission by John Sullivan from Oughterard, it's in his house now," said Charlie.
When his second horse is done, Charlie has no plans yet for it.
"I'd be willing to part with them if the price is right. I'd love if they went to a public building on display," he said.