Murray Clonfert branding iron

 

Branding iron from John Joe Murray's Clonfert Callows.

Christy Cunniffe

 

View from front.

Christy Cunniffe

 

Letter J.

Christy Cunniffe

This branding iron is in the possession of Christy Cunniffe, Galway Community Archaeologist. It was given to him by his late uncle Tommy Spellman who recovered it from the ruins of John Joe Murray’s house in Clonfert Callows. It bears the letter J. Interestingly no family with a surname beginning with a J resided there. It is possible that it came from Moystown across the River Shannon in Co. Offaly where there was a family named Johnson. The branding iron consists of a long iron handle with a circular loop at the end. The E is riveted to the forked head of the shaft or handle. The E is finished in a serifs. No other information is available on the history or origin of this object.