Traditionally the internal parts of many concertinas were made from Sycamore (also known as European Maple), a relatively stable timber which machines
well. It was also plentiful and cheap. It is not available in Australia today. While I was in Ireland in August 2009 Dublin harpmaker
Tomás MacUileagóid took me to Clonmore Sawmill, near Ballynagar, Co. Offaly. There we selected a Sycamore log and
Mick the miller cut it to our specifications. We then took it to Dominic Trimble in Geashill and he dried it in a kiln for 6 weeks. Tomás later picked it up, broke
it down a little further and the first batch arrived in Australia recently. Over the next few years I'll get to send it back to Ireland in smaller pieces.

Pictures by Denis Grehan.