Based near Moynalty, the Co Meath town well known for its annual steam threshing fair, the Cassidy brothers run a hedge-cutting and lime-spreading enterprise alongside a suckler, sheep and dairy herd.
We caught up with Patrick Cassidy to find out a little bit about the business and why Bomford has remained the hedge cutter brand of choice since the business started over 30 years ago.
The Cassidy brothers specialise in only two contracting services.
“We focus on providing just the two services, hedge-cutting and lime spreading, offering the best service we can. Work is roughly split evenly between the two and sits in well with the livestock end of things. The hedge-cutting and lime-spreading services complement each other, rarely overlapping given the closed season for hedge-cutting. Therefore, we can make good use of our tractors and our time as work is usually steady,” Patrick explained.
The forward reach machines allows for less operator strain as less turning is needed to view the cutting head.
Bomford from the beginning
Hedge-cutting now over 30 years, Patrick recalls buying the first hedge cutter, a Bomford B48 XLE model which remained working away within the business for over 15 years.
He noted how Bomford had been the machine of choice right through the years. “Bomford stood out to us from the start. They were beefy, well-built machines 30 years ago and still are today. This is a trait we always look for in any machine, something well engineered and built to last.
“We work our machines almost every day over the cutting season, carrying out all private work. Therefore, we require a machine well cable of standing the test of time. The Bomford machines have proved capable over the years, with no major repairs or welding of arms or anything like that. I believe our first machine is still working away trouble-free 30 years on apart from replacing the usual wearing parts.”
Rolling the clock forward to today, the Cassidys are now running two Bomford machines, a Falcon Evo that was purchased new in 2013 and a new Falcon Evo Forward arm which replaced an older model Falcon Evo.
Both cutters have a telescopic stroke of 900m, leaving the standard Evo machine with a reach of 6m and the new Evo forward arm with a total reach of 6.5m. Both machines are fitted with the Bomford Intelligent Control system (ICS).
All hedge cutter functions are controlled using the electronic proportional joystick. The control unit has a small LCD screen for displaying work hours, oil temperatures, fault codes and warning messages, etc. Patrick noted how there are some good functions within the ICS, including the ability to set each individual ram’s speed depending on the operator.
Falcon has been the Cassidys’ go-to range of hedge cutters, suiting the majority of their work best. Anything larger is handled using the Ford 7840 and mounted Moffett saw.
“The Falcon machines suit our tractors and were always well capable of what we asked. Moving to bigger machines would require more weight and power up front which wouldn’t really make sense when the Falcons are working well.”
Hydraulic pump and cutting head
The Falcon Evo range is designed for large-scale contractors. Each model is equipped with a 74hp hydraulic pump, with 5.5m (fixed), 6m (telescopic) and 6.5m (telescopic) reach options available.
The Falcon Evo range is fitted with a gear-type hydraulic pump capable of 125l/min, which Patrick noted has never left him wanting more hydraulic power. When comparing the Falcons with other brands he worked with and observed working over the years, he said his view is that the Bomford has a slight edge.
He noted the ease of use and their ability to maintain lower oil temperatures when compared with some of their competitors.
The only difference with the new forward reach model over the standard Falcon Evo is that its head is positioned 1.2m forward. The 1.2m forward arm is fixed on this particular model, the next step up being the Variable Forward Arm (VFA) models, which allow the operator to set the reach anywhere up to 2m forward or 0.9m backwards.
Patrick says the fixed forward reach is a great feature as the cutting head is more visible from the driver’s seat, meaning there is less neck strain from not having to look behind as much.
He pointed out how the concept suits newer tractors fitted with a full-size door as there is no middle pillar to obstruct the view while working.
Reaching in behind poles and trees is now much easier too. Debris is also thrown away from the tractor better with the forward arm, he said. This is a feature that will be strongly considered again when upgrading his older machine.
The forward arm and the additional reach leaves the Cassidys’ new machine an additional 355kg heavier than the standard Falcon Evo, weighing in at a total of 2,245kg.
The additional weight means the cutter is mounted using axle brackets, which Patrick said leaves everything much more stable on the tractor compared to the standard three-point linkage system his other cutter uses. The axle brackets make attaching and detaching the hedge cutter easier than before too, he says.
Both cutters are fitted with the standard 1.2m cutting head and 150mm diameter rollers. Patrick noted how they tend to run both machines together. Typically one machine is fitted with boot flails and the other fitted with T flails. Using the T flail for rougher cutting and the boot flail for finishing a hedge or cutting grass verges.
Models: Bomford Falcon Evo and Falcon Evo Forward Arm.Reach: 6m telescopic and 6.5m telescopic.Hydraulics: 74hp gear pump (125l/min).Power requirement: 75hp and 120hp.Weight: 1,890kg and 2,245kg.List prices: €47,000 plus VAT and €61,100 plus VAT.
Based near Moynalty, the Co Meath town well known for its annual steam threshing fair, the Cassidy brothers run a hedge-cutting and lime-spreading enterprise alongside a suckler, sheep and dairy herd.
We caught up with Patrick Cassidy to find out a little bit about the business and why Bomford has remained the hedge cutter brand of choice since the business started over 30 years ago.
The Cassidy brothers specialise in only two contracting services.
“We focus on providing just the two services, hedge-cutting and lime spreading, offering the best service we can. Work is roughly split evenly between the two and sits in well with the livestock end of things. The hedge-cutting and lime-spreading services complement each other, rarely overlapping given the closed season for hedge-cutting. Therefore, we can make good use of our tractors and our time as work is usually steady,” Patrick explained.
The forward reach machines allows for less operator strain as less turning is needed to view the cutting head.
Bomford from the beginning
Hedge-cutting now over 30 years, Patrick recalls buying the first hedge cutter, a Bomford B48 XLE model which remained working away within the business for over 15 years.
He noted how Bomford had been the machine of choice right through the years. “Bomford stood out to us from the start. They were beefy, well-built machines 30 years ago and still are today. This is a trait we always look for in any machine, something well engineered and built to last.
“We work our machines almost every day over the cutting season, carrying out all private work. Therefore, we require a machine well cable of standing the test of time. The Bomford machines have proved capable over the years, with no major repairs or welding of arms or anything like that. I believe our first machine is still working away trouble-free 30 years on apart from replacing the usual wearing parts.”
Rolling the clock forward to today, the Cassidys are now running two Bomford machines, a Falcon Evo that was purchased new in 2013 and a new Falcon Evo Forward arm which replaced an older model Falcon Evo.
Both cutters have a telescopic stroke of 900m, leaving the standard Evo machine with a reach of 6m and the new Evo forward arm with a total reach of 6.5m. Both machines are fitted with the Bomford Intelligent Control system (ICS).
All hedge cutter functions are controlled using the electronic proportional joystick. The control unit has a small LCD screen for displaying work hours, oil temperatures, fault codes and warning messages, etc. Patrick noted how there are some good functions within the ICS, including the ability to set each individual ram’s speed depending on the operator.
Falcon has been the Cassidys’ go-to range of hedge cutters, suiting the majority of their work best. Anything larger is handled using the Ford 7840 and mounted Moffett saw.
“The Falcon machines suit our tractors and were always well capable of what we asked. Moving to bigger machines would require more weight and power up front which wouldn’t really make sense when the Falcons are working well.”
Hydraulic pump and cutting head
The Falcon Evo range is designed for large-scale contractors. Each model is equipped with a 74hp hydraulic pump, with 5.5m (fixed), 6m (telescopic) and 6.5m (telescopic) reach options available.
The Falcon Evo range is fitted with a gear-type hydraulic pump capable of 125l/min, which Patrick noted has never left him wanting more hydraulic power. When comparing the Falcons with other brands he worked with and observed working over the years, he said his view is that the Bomford has a slight edge.
He noted the ease of use and their ability to maintain lower oil temperatures when compared with some of their competitors.
The only difference with the new forward reach model over the standard Falcon Evo is that its head is positioned 1.2m forward. The 1.2m forward arm is fixed on this particular model, the next step up being the Variable Forward Arm (VFA) models, which allow the operator to set the reach anywhere up to 2m forward or 0.9m backwards.
Patrick says the fixed forward reach is a great feature as the cutting head is more visible from the driver’s seat, meaning there is less neck strain from not having to look behind as much.
He pointed out how the concept suits newer tractors fitted with a full-size door as there is no middle pillar to obstruct the view while working.
Reaching in behind poles and trees is now much easier too. Debris is also thrown away from the tractor better with the forward arm, he said. This is a feature that will be strongly considered again when upgrading his older machine.
The forward arm and the additional reach leaves the Cassidys’ new machine an additional 355kg heavier than the standard Falcon Evo, weighing in at a total of 2,245kg.
The additional weight means the cutter is mounted using axle brackets, which Patrick said leaves everything much more stable on the tractor compared to the standard three-point linkage system his other cutter uses. The axle brackets make attaching and detaching the hedge cutter easier than before too, he says.
Both cutters are fitted with the standard 1.2m cutting head and 150mm diameter rollers. Patrick noted how they tend to run both machines together. Typically one machine is fitted with boot flails and the other fitted with T flails. Using the T flail for rougher cutting and the boot flail for finishing a hedge or cutting grass verges.
Models: Bomford Falcon Evo and Falcon Evo Forward Arm.Reach: 6m telescopic and 6.5m telescopic.Hydraulics: 74hp gear pump (125l/min).Power requirement: 75hp and 120hp.Weight: 1,890kg and 2,245kg.List prices: €47,000 plus VAT and €61,100 plus VAT. 
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