Interview with Des McMahon
Our subject this month was barely a year in the Chapter when he was ‘volunteered’ into the job of chairman which duties he carried out while continuing to excel in the competitions. I wanted to know more about Des McMahon so I went along to his home last week and this emerged:
Editor: I didn’t expect to hear birdsong as I came into your workshop. Do they warn you of high levels of dust like canaries in the coalmine or what?
Des:No, nothing like that . I was always interested in birds in the past and have resurrected an old hobby.
Ed: I count 25 cages all made by yourself , some hobby! Anyway what did you do before retirement?
Des: After training as an accountant I wound up as industrial relations manager with Bord na Mona for 30 years. I know the sight of bogs pretty well.
Ed: How did you get into woodturning ?
Des: I met Peter Mulvaney one day in 1994 at a car boot sale and I got interested. My first lathe was a Clarke single bar after a first lesson from Peter. After that it was just practice and more practice. Now I have the bigger Record which suits me fine.
Ed: How do achieve such success in selling and competing?
Des: By not being afraid to try anything new and putting in many hours at the lathe. At least I did in the past , not so much now . Like most turners I like to buy and try out different tools and gadgets which my sales have always paid for. I have no particular specialty, I have tried everything.
Ed: Any views on the Chapter?
Des: It is more important to me that the Guild itself . There are things wrong with it, too crowded at times, perhaps it could benefit from more younger members but how do we attract them? More exhibitions and demonstrations might help.
Ed: Thanks for talking to me.