Stone Mad

by Seamus Murphy

A memoir of an Irish stonecarver's apprenticeship.

Genres: Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Nich Traverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing collection of stories, and has made me more aware of stonework everywhere I go.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an informative read which has helped me to better understand and appreciate the skill and work of my O’Connor predecessors who hailed from Ballinasloe (a bonus is that they get a mention!) but who worked on jobs throughout the country. I hadn’t appreciated how much the craft was in decline with the increased use of concrete in buildings. It has inspired me to look up and more closely at buildings made of stone!

[David Hollywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful recollections of a very special and skillful artisan who presents such an absorbingly honest history of his encounters and memories as to entertain and hold your affections all the way through. A very affecting read.

[Cian Coveney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming book and an interesting window onto a time and place that is no more. Evocative of what was the end of a golden era of building in cut stone. Warning !!! This book may cause you to develop a strange and irrational interest in stonework.

[Kenneth Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The life and work of a Stonecutter and Monumental Carver in Ireland in the early to mid 20th century. It explains a lot about how mad we that work with stone are. The 75 year anniversary reprint is out and I'm urrently reading for the third time.