Clay Pipe Visitor Centre

Knockcroghery was renowned for the almost 300 years for the production of clay pipes or dúidíns. By the late 1800’s virtually the entire village was involved in the manufacture of the pipes which were distributed extensively throughout the country. They were smoked by both men and women and were predominantly the pipe of the common man. Inscriptions on pipes were also used for advertising or to indicate the smoker’s political inclination. For example : Home Rule, Parnell, Who fears to speak of ’98, etc. Other inscriptions were simply decorative. eg: Basket-weave design. We also have a limited number of antique pipe heads dating from the early 1800’s to 1921.