Barn finds are the focus of this year’s Eyrecourt Vintage Show, as the organisers are aiming to create a different experience on Sunday 21 June at the Lawn, Eyrecourt, Co Galway.
This new focus allows people who are starting the restoration of a tractor, car or truck to show the machine in its raw form, in advance of the full restoration process beginning. The machines will be invited back to the biannual show in 2017 to show the finished product.
Michael Hogan, local New Holland tractor dealer and member of the Eyrecourt Vintage Show committee, will have a number of machines from his own collection on view.
Michael has recently taken on the restoration work on a 1948 Field Marshall Series II tractor that was located in a farmyard in Ahascragh, outside Ballinasloe.
The tractor is an original contractor’s model, which had full lights and a higher-speed gearbox. This tractor was stored for many years and a swing on the large side-mounted flywheel indicates that the tractor engine has not seized.
Michael aims to restore the tractor over the next two years and return it to its owner in original condition. There will be a lot of work ahead for him and, with his Marshall experience, the challenge is one that he is looking forward to.
Michael has five Marshall tractors in his fleet, all of which have been restored over many years and all of which are in good working order.
The Eyrecourt organisers are hoping to show a wide range of single-cylinder tractors from Britain and Europe, many of which were worked on local farms from the 1930s onwards.
Other displays for Eyrecourt include a concrete block-making display, using an old manually filled and hand-operated press that was made in Inchicore, Dublin, at the start of the 1900s.
This unit was used by Michael Hogan’s late father as a builder in the area, right up the 1960s.
The show will also include a special display of handmade models in a special craft tent. The show will be officially opened by singer Mike Denver.
To Russia via Donaghmore
On Friday and Saturday 5-6 June, a group of vintage tractor enthusiasts will depart from Virginia, Co Cavan, to travel over 100 miles to Donaghmore, Co Laois.
The group, who are members of the Windmill Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club, will be raising funds for To Russia with Love, a small charity based in Clontarf, Co Dublin, which works with children in orphanages in Russia. For this special tractor run, the group will be joined by members of Lisdoonan Vintage Club from Co Monaghan.
On Friday, the group will travel via Kells, Clonmellon, Delvin and Mullingar before arriving in Kilbeggan for their overnight stop. On Saturday, the group travels to Tullamore, Killeigh and Mountrath before arriving at Swallows Quarter, Donaghmore, Co Laois, for the national crank-up and TVO day on Sunday 7 June.
John Clancy (087-632 9362) of the Windmill Club said that the group urgently needs help from volunteers to collect in Mullingar. You can also support this event by texting TRACTOR to 50300 to donate €4.
Innishannon is the big one
This Sunday and Monday will provide vintage enthusiasts with a special steam opportunity at the Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally in Co Cork.
The event brings together the great traditions of steam and vintage tractors to the unique site outside the village of Innishannon. This year’s rally will be officially opened by John Horgan, the singing barman. This year, Innishannon will feature 51 working steam engines, one of the highest number ever.
Innishannon PRO Paul Kelliher said that they will have more than 300 vintage and classic tractors on view.
Gearing up for silage
The Border Counties Vintage Grassmen are gearing up for a hectic weekend of silage-making the old way when their 24-hour silage cutting challenge takes place at Aughnafarcon, between Castleblayney and Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, this Saturday and Sunday.
The 24-hour record attempt will feature 32 single-chop silage harvesters allocated for the challenge.
The machines will begin cutting grass at 4pm on Saturday 30 May and will finish at 4pm the following day.
They will work in 45-minute sessions on a 20-acre field, with no break in harvesting between the 32 outfits right through the overnight shift.
Francis McBride (086-363 5056) and Ronan Boyd (086-603 3288) have more information about this exciting event.
Date Event Location Contact
29 May Seaforde Vintage Club road run Down 0044-780 1980324
30 May N Ireland engine rally Patterson’s Mill, Antrim 028/048-908 48154
30 May Derrygortreavy vintage rally Dungannon, Tyrone 0044-759 3915320
30 May Portglenone vintage rally Antrim 0044-750 0502697
30 May Derrykeighan parish vintage rally Antrim 028/048-207 41110
31 May Longford 10th vintage show Longford 087-116 7630
31 May Border Counties silage challenge Aughnafarcon, Monaghan 086-603 3288
31 May Sth Leitrim/West Cavan vintage day Ballinamore, Leitrim 087-980 6974
31 May/1 June Innishannon steam and vintage rally Cork 021-477 5808
3 June Vintage vehicle road run Ballyward, Down 0044-781 8094797
5/6 June Windmill vintage 100-mile run Cavan 087-632 9362
6 June Mid-Ulster vintage rally Moneymore, Tyrone 0044-788 7948543
6 June Loanends Church vintage run Antrim 0044-758 1006781
6 June Drumcree vintage rally Drumcree, Armagh 028/048-383 37060
7 June IVETA vintage rally Swallows Quarter, Laois 086-867 2664
7 June Shrule and district vintage rally Mayo 087-982 6003
7 June Sperrin rally Draperstown, Tyrone 028/048-796 27104