Claypipes

The village of Knockcroghery in County Roscommon, Ireland, was famous for almost 300 years as the centre for the production of the clay pipe or "duidin" (pronounced dudeen). By the late 1800s there were up to 100 people involved in the manufacturing and distribution of the village's clay pipes. At its peak, virtually the entire village was involved in the manufacture of the pipes and the dudeens were smoked extensively throughout the country. During the 18th and 19th centuries pipe smoking was extremely popular and the Knockcroghery Clay Pipe was the pipe of the ordinary man and woman.

They were particularly popular at "wakes" where trays of tobacco filled pipes, Guinness and Whiskey would be laid out for the mourners.The Clay Pipe was an essential part of the wake. Families prided themselves on the size of the wake which often lasted two days and two nights. As soon as the person had died, relatives or friends went to buy the "Funeral Expenses". These included porter, whiskey, snuff, clay pipes, tobacco, tea, jam, bread and candles. A gross of pipes (144) or more was bought and filled with tobacco. The pipes were passed out to everyone at the wake. As a pipe was taken it was customary to say "Lord have Mercy". Thus a pipe became known as a "Lord ha' Mercy". The availability of cigarettes and cheap hickory pipes in the early twentieth century marked the beginning of the decline of the clay pipe. However the end came abruptly for the Knockcroghery pipe industry. Production of the pipes ceased abruptly on 19th June 1921 when the village was burned down by the Black and Tans during the War of Independence. On that day, 250 years of pipemaking came to an end in Knockcroghery Village.

We have now revived the craft of clay-pipe manufacture on the original site of Andrew and P.J. Curley's clay-pipe factory. From this factory clay pipes were distributed throughout Ireland and exported to centres of Irish emigration. Using the original tools and moulds we produce the pipes using the original methods as were used for almost 300 years.

These authentic craft-pieces are uniquely Irish and may be smoked or simply admired for their cultural significance.

Traditionally, before smoking, the shank of the claypipe was dipped into some Guinness or Whiskey. This sealed the mouthpiece and imparted good flavour to the clay.