I was driving the new Renault Megane car in Wicklow recently at its launch on the Irish market and searched around the Rathdrum region for a good farming location against which to photograph it. The photograph of the car attracted some attention but not as much as the impressive Ford 7000 tractor that provided the backdrop.

I was not unduly surprised about the interest in the tractor, which is in excellent condition. This 1975 tractor is owned by Mick and Maura Heffernan, who run a small cattle and horse farm, as well as a busy guesthouse, Coolalingo B&B, beside the picturesque Glenmalure Lodge deep in the heart of the Garden of Ireland.

Mick bought the tractor off Monaghan man Patrick Kirk from Inniskeen in 2015 and is delighted with his purchase. The tractor replaced a Ford 5000 and for Mick, the newer model is a big step up in terms of power and comfort.

For some, a tractor like this would be a collector’s item, not a machine that has to earn its keep. The Ford 7000 does a range of duties around the farm, including driving a very solid-looking log splitter over many weeks of the year.

Mick retains the original brown registration book for the tractor, which shows the two previous owners.

The tractor was originally owned by James Smith from The Moat, Rathmolyon, Co Meath, and hence the ZN Meath registration plate.

This tractor may originally have been sold by Kelly’s of Kilcock, which was a one of the country’s largest Ford tractor dealer at the time.

The tractor was then registered in the name of Thomas Smyth of Killeen, Riverstown, Birr, Co Offaly, before ending up with Patrick Kirk, who restored it to its current impressive condition.

Looking back on the history of the Ford 7000, I found that it was first produced at Ford’s Basildon factory in England in 1971 and continued until 1975. This makes Mick Heffernan’s one of the last batches of the popular tractor to be built.

The tractor was powered by the first turbo-diesel Ford tractor engine, which at 256cu (4,195cc) in size was the same engine fitted to the even more popular Ford 5000. The difference that the turbo-charging made was an extra 19hp, bringing it to 94hp on the engine and 83hp on the PTO. This boosted engine also delivered and extra 40Nm of torque but rated at a slightly higher 1,600rpm on the engine.

This Ford 7000 came with a standard eight forward and two reverse speed gearbox. There was the option of a hydraulic dual-power system from 1974 that doubled the speeds and that’s included in Mick Heffernan’s tractor.

The Ford 7000 became somewhat of a legend and the tractor of choice for many farmers and contractors who were moving on from single chop silage harvesting to double chops and the New Holland 717 trailed precision chop machine, which was also very popular in Ireland in its day.

The Ford 7000 was launched at the 1971 Royal Smithfield Show in London in response to farmer demand for more power from the Ford 5000. Ford’s response to farmers who were fitting the 5000 with a six-cylinder engine took the shape of the turbo-charged Ford 7000 and what a success it was. The Ford 7000 was then used by tractor converters to produce four-wheel-drive tractors, including the Roadless 94T and County 944.

Ford 7000 specifications in 1975

In February 1975, the Ford 7000 was to make its final appearance in an Irish Farmers Journal tractor supplement. The tractor was listed as one of nine Ford tractors then available from Irish importer and subsidiary of Ford, Henry Ford and Sons, Marina, Cork.

The Ford tractor models listed include the 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 7000 and Ford 8600, as well as new additions to the Ford range in Ireland, the County 4000 Four, County 754 and 1164 models. Prior to that period, the County range was handled in Ireland by Cahir House Garage, Cahir, Co Tipperary.

The Ford 7000 came with a full steel safety in 1975, which was rare enough among the competition. The list price was £4,726, while the pick-up hitch added an extra £96 to the price.

Some models, like Mick Heffernan’s, were sold with a dual-power system and a plush Grammer seat, which added a further £288 to the price.

The standard tractor came with 7.50 x 18 front tyres and 14 x 34 rear tyres. These are similar to the tyres on Mick’s tractor today.

Lismore Castle the venue for Melleray silage event

Melleray Vintage Club, based in west Waterford, is holding a vintage silage-cutting event on the grounds of Lismore Castle on Sunday 31 July.

Jean Cahill (087-642 9404), PRO at the 50-member club founded in 2015, told the Irish Farmers Journal that they have been provided with the use of 100 acres to hold their silage-cutting exhibition and show with dedicated off-road parking, all within the estate.

Lismore Castle is set on the banks of the River Blackwater in the heritage town of Lismore. Lismore Castle Estate is a working dairy, beef and tillage farm under farm manager Jerry Twomey.

The site is accessible from all areas, being 45 minutes from Waterford and 50 minutes from Cork. All traffic should enter Lismore from the N72 and the entrance will be signposted from both sides of the town.

Singer Richie Kavanagh will officially open the event and provide entertainment throughout the day.

In the silage harvesting plots, there will be single-chop, double-chop and precision-chop silage harvesters in action. The club is continuing to take new entries for the special event for all vintage (strictly pre-1991) silage equipment, including silage trailers.

On the day, club chair Ned O’Rourke will be working his New Holland 339 double chop behind a 1979 Ford 7600, along with Mike Geary driving a 1983 Taarup 106B precision chop pulled by a Ford 5000.

Jimmy Cotter will be along on the day with his 1969 John Deere 4020 and his 1970s FC80 precision chop. The event will also include tractor pulling.

The club aims to make a donation from the proceeds of the day to St Carthage’s rest home in Lismore.

Irish Farmers Journal Vintage Diary

Contact

21 July Temple Vintage Cavalcade Boardmills, Lisburn 028/048-908 120 25

22/23 July Mid Ulster 2 Day Tractor Trek Tyrone 0044-745 132 5188

22-24 July Ballincollig Vintage Club Annual Show Cork 087-909 6616

24 July Iveragh Vintage Rally, Waterville Kerry 086-603 8800

24 July Coolmoyne & Moyglass Vintage Run Tipperary 086-254 7162

24 July Courtnacuddy Vintage Day Wexford 087-315 1257

24 July Askamore Vintage Club Road Run Wexford 087-268 5791

27 July Conahy Vintage Club, Conahy Kilkenny 086-765 8393

27 July Vintage at Clogher Valley Show, Augher Tyrone 028/048-855 488 83

27 July Clough Vintage Club Run Antrim 0044-792 697 0643

30 July Claragh Bridge Vintage Show, Drumaroad Down 0044-797 754 2430

30 July North West Fermanagh Rally Irvinestown Fermanagh 0044-774 965 8267

30 July Carnlough Vintage Heritage Day, Carnlough Antrim 0044-776 479 4104

31 July Inistioge Vintage Show Kilkenny 087-918 3930

31 July Melleray Vintage Silage, Lismore Castle Waterford 087-812 8159

31 July Ballinacree Tractor Road Run, Ballinacree Meath 087-951 8650

1 August Kilmihill Vintage Rally Clare 087-257 7029

1 August DeCourcey Harvest Working Day, Ballinadee Cork 087-266 7296

*Dates are subject to change. The Irish Farmers Journal does not take responsibility for date or venue changes. Please contact each event before you travel.