The cutting of turf has become a major political issue in many rural communities over the past three years. So, the level of reaction to the ban on turf cutting should come as a surprise when you think about the relatively recent history of turf machinery development in Ireland. Turf cutting went from sleán to machine almost overnight in the early 1980s, with the advent of what became known as the ‘‘sausage machine’’. Over a period of four years, between 1981 and 1984, Irish innovators produced an abundance of new machine ideas for turf cutting.
The cutting of turf has become a major political issue in many rural communities over the past three years. So, the level of reaction to the ban on turf cutting should come as a surprise when you think about the relatively recent history of turf machinery development in Ireland.
Turf cutting went from sleán to machine almost overnight in the early 1980s, with the advent of what became known as the ‘‘sausage machine’’. Over a period of four years, between 1981 and 1984, Irish innovators produced an abundance of new machine ideas for turf cutting.
The background was that Bord na Móna was administering a grant scheme, called the Turf Development Act of 1981, for the development of privately-owned bogs. The scheme was created because it was established by researcher Dr Bob Hammond of An Foras Talúntais (now Teagasc) that there was in excess of 28,000ha of potential bog area available and suitable for fuel production in Ireland.
This grant aid was ‘‘towards the cost of access roads, drainage, as well as the cost of purchasing, leasing or hiring turf development equipment.’’ The level of grant aid was attractive: 60% for co-ops and 45% for private operators, which included contractors.
The EEC at the time also supported the bog development under what was called the Valoren programme. Ironically, this compares with today, where farmers are prevented from cutting turf on many Irish bogs and the EU is blamed.
It is also interesting that, at that time, the Irish Peat Council was supportive of bog development. Its regular newsletters gave advice on managing bogs and encouraged the creation of the Turf Producers and Contractors Association, the group that today continues to strongly defend the right to cut turf on Irish bogs.
While Bord na Móna was operating with industrial-scale turfcutting machines, other machinery designers saw the opportunities. Finnish companies, such as Suokone OY, were already producing sod peat machines. They had used the resources of Bord na Móna’s decades of research, but their machines were not suitable for Irish conditions.
The Irish Sugar Company’s Tuam factory was the Irish source for the Suokone Meri machines and it showed a tractor-mounted Meri 300mm shallow-cut disc sod machine at the 1981 Spring Show for the first time. This was followed by field demonstrations.
A Roscommon group of engineering and farming brothers, Frank, Peter, Michael and Rick Finan from Ballintubber Enterprises, were also quickly in on the act. They had been manufacturing vegetable machines for sale under the Herbst brand in association with Wicklow-based Michael Herbst of ME Herbst, a German-born marketing entrepreneur, who was farming at Kilpoole Hill.
The Finans spent three years developing and patenting a turf machine. This machine was called the Herbst Difco Turfcutter and it revolutionised turfcutting in Ireland. The first Herbst Difco machine was launched on the Herbst stand at the Spring Show in May 1981.
The machine was designed to be operated behind a tractor with 70hp available at the PTO and it came with claims of 50t/acre of bog output per day. It had a 1.35m (4ft 6in) chain-type cutter that cut at an angle of 45o into the bog, while lifting the peat/turf into a steel macerator unit. From here, the turf was extruded into sausage-like bricks.
In October 1981, Herbst organised a Herbst Difco Turfcutter working event in Derrylahan Bog, Cornafulla, Athlone. The launch was a three-day affair, managed by the marketing skill of Michael Herbst. He brought hundreds of farmers, contractors, banks, media and ambassadors from around the world to see the machine working behind a Lamborghini 954 tractor.
The reaction to the Athlone event was tremendous. Herbst signed up so many contractors for the machines that Ballintubber Enterprises was put to the pin of its collar to deliver them in time for the 1982 turf harvest.
I remember being present at the event as contractors signed up with £1,000 deposits for the machines. My notes from then show that the machines cost close to £7,900 each, plus VAT. The enthusiasm was almost frenzy-like as contractors saw the opportunities for extra income with the attraction of grant aid. Hot whiskey, produced in a roadside caravan, helped us all to cope with the damp wet conditions on the day.
Ballintubber Enterprises went on to produce a huge range of turf machines, including a tracked self-propelled 320hp Bogmiser machine in 1986. By then, 500 machines were working in Ireland and a further 200 as far away as the Falkland Islands, Africa and Alaska.
Other manufacturers soon joined in. These included KH Engineering, Danmac, Turmec and, later, Big Track and Teva.
The Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally presented a cheque for €85,000 to the Irish Cancer Society at a recent function in the Innishannon House Hotel. The proceeds were from the 17th Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally held on the June bank holiday weekend.
Over the past 17 years, the Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally has raised over €1,245,000 for the ICS. The rally is now aiming to break the €1.5m mark in the coming years as it gets bigger.
Next year’s Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally takes place on 31 May and 1 June 2015.
Francis Loughran, an appreciation
Many vintage clubs and associations will remember Francis (Francie) Loughran in their own way but we, in Meath Vintage Group, will remember him as Francie, a true friend and a vintage expert.
Francie was a man of great integrity, wisdom and foresight. Back in the early 1990s, he could see the demise of our rich heritage which would be lost forever if nobody took a stand. So, Francie, together with some likeminded people formed Meath Vintage Group.
Francie was known the length and breadth of Ireland, not only in vintage circles, but also from his days as a haulier when he travelled the highways and byways delivering all sorts of goods to every town and village.
It was on one of these journeys he met the light and love of his life Olive, née Flood, a member of a well-respected business family from Cavan. They settled in Co Meath where they have lived since.
Francie had a great knowledge of all things vintage. He was always willing to impart his lore whenever called upon for advice; he inspired many with this knowledge. He had a fine collection of vintage equipment of which he was duly proud.
Both Francie and Olive were great supporters of fundraising tractor drives and threshings. Distance was never a bother. They were always generous to the causes being supported.
Francie was a great raconteur and had a marvellous stock of stories from his young days.
He enthralled many with tales of bother crossings and of his dealings with customs officials. No marks for guessing who fared the worst during these encounters.
Meath Vintage Group will greatly miss our stalwart founding member, but that loss will pale into oblivion when compared with the deep loss felt by Olive, Mary Rose, Frankie, Dominic and Joey, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
To Francie, we say: “Farewell old friend, the light of Heaven to you, we’ll not see your likes again”.
Anne Berrill,
Meath Vintage Group
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