Dear Sir, – The tribute from Michael Harding to our rural artisans, “An ode to the country tradesmen”, (Life, 16th October) emphasises the value of having dependable and proficient handy individuals in our lives, particularly for those amongst us who are not gifted with DIY skills.
I recall a time when I had to request a local plumber investigate a leak affecting our lounge. Upon prying open the floorboards, he quickly deduced his uncle was responsible for installing the initial “T-junction” back in the 1950s. His assertion was based on finding an empty packet of Players Gold Leaf cigarettes, his late uncle’s known preference, hidden next to the pipes beneath the floor. Local assistance can indeed be invaluable, not least for their intimate knowledge of the location of hidden pipes! – Yours truly,
CORMAC MEEHAN,
Bundoran,
Dear Sir, – Michael Harding’s piece on county craftsmen was a delight to read. An equally delightful personal homage to his departed neighbour and dear friend.
In West Cork, we traditionally refer to such individuals as “handymen”. Regardless of how they contribute to “maintaining rural communities intact”, they undeniably have held together rural homesteads! They demonstrated skills in a vast range of household requirements, from repairing damaged eave drops, correcting misaligned TV aerials, tiling, mending cracked windows, unclogging drains, along with rudimentary carpentry, electrical and plumbing work. Every homeowner had their trusted handyman to depend upon whenever home upkeep was required. While we now benefit from specialised craftspeople, few venture beyond their area of expertise. The handyman was a master of all tasks and there wasn’t a need to search through Google for varied tradespeople. We regret the loss of such dedicated individuals. – Yours truly,
JIM LONG,
Bandon,
Co Cork.