20/02/2026
Last year we restored an Old Derrick Crane.This Crane was bought by Laurance and Pat Foster in 1951 from a limestone Quarry near Portarlington. After its move to the Granite Quarries in Ballyknockan it was worked by the Foster family until its Jib was lowered in 1980. It stands 5.5 metres high and had a lifting capacity of 4 tons. This was achieved by the stay legs being loaded up with up to 8 tons of weight each side. These type of cranes had two stay legs. The Crane could rotate between both stay legs.
This type of Crane (Derrick) was extremely useful in the Quarry as the Jib could be lowered and then wound tight and lifted upwards to help drag and lift the granite block from the Quarry. This was also helped with a stationary winch for maximum pulling power. Both the crane and winch were operated by men winding each side, the heavier the piece, the more men required.
This Crane on a heavy lift would have two men per side. Four in total.
The main mast and Jib were made from Oak and the mechanism was made from cast iron.
It was known to remove the Jib and rotate from time to time as it would bend downwards from lifting and get into a banana shape.
Our aim last year was to have it restored to the best of our ability along with the help of Thomas Foster the last man to work and lower the crane in 1980 and the owner, alongside our late dear friend and project manager John Holmes, R.I.P.
It was re-erected and did its first test lift of 200kgs in April 2025, forty five years later.
It will stand again as a monument and memorial for all the past Quarry workers, Family and Friends in an non lifting capacity.
It took a crew to put it back, they are simple in design but a challenge to reassemble. To name check the help..... Niall Geoghegan, Pat Geoghegan, Eamonn Byrne(Red lad), James McEvoy, Des McEvoy, John McEvoy, Thomas Foster and John Holmes.
Our goal was to show it off at Feile an Chnocain festival on the bank Holiday in May 2025.
It was a massive success.
This Festival is running this year on the long weekend in May and you can see this on the 2nd of May 2026 as part of the festival this year.
We do have another exciting project we're working on and hopefully this coming festival weekend we can show you.
