With numbers of equines here steadily on the rise once again, those interested in the trade, especially young women, are now being actively encouraged to sign up for the 2016 intake on the four-year course, which will commence in Kildare later this year.
"We always receive a lot of applications from young men, but we'd love to see more women taking an interest in the profession," commented Anne Channon, who oversees the Irish School of Farriery, situated within the Racing Academy and Centre of Education in Kildare town.
Home to the only apprenticeship training facility for farriers in southern Ireland, the Irish School of Farriery was established in 2003 to provide structured training for apprentices and continuing education for practising farriers.
Today the school continues to provide world-class training through a QQI approved syllabus.
With SOLAS funding, eight farriery apprentices are accepted each year for a four-year apprenticeship which leads to a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Farriery.
To be eligible, a prospective candidate must be at least 16 years of age and have completed their Junior Certificate to ordinary level. During the term apprentices will serve time with a qualified Master Farrier.
Over the years many graduates have established their own businesses here in Ireland, and abroad, but up until 2003 many young would-be farriers had to train at one of the established facilities in the UK.
One such man is Sam Brennan, who together with his brother Ruairí runs a busy service in Co. Limerick.
"When I was starting out there was no course in Ireland so I had to study in Hereford in the UK for four years, but Ruairí was able to train in Kildare," Sam said.
A firm footing - how farrier craft is being revitalised
A full-time, four-year course for farriers is helping revitalise the craft here
Ireland is home to some 200,000 horses and ponies, but presently just 200 full-time and 200 part-time farriers attend to these animals on a regular basis.