On a day of low cloud and threatening rain that never came, hundreds of people turned out to experience the first-ever vintage show near the foothills of Sliabh Bán on Sunday last as part of the Sliabh Ban Harvest Festival.
The show, hosted by Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club, was an enjoyable and interesting scene of vintage cars, tractors, and other sundry items. Among the attractions on site were craftspeople, model machinery display, antique tools, and a blacksmith. There was also a horse and carriage, giving children pleasure tours of the field, and a funfair for the toddlers.
At midday, the Rathcline Threshing Team gave a demonstration of how a thresher worked by having a large load of corn processed by the machine. The same team also gave a demonstration of how stone was crushed before the advent of industrialisation, by crushing stone with a vintage machine that is at least one hundred years old. Both demonstrations attracted a lot of interest as onlookers watched in awe as the machines did their work.
This was the first attempt at running a vintage show in the region and it is hoped that it could become an annual event. Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club will be examining the probability of hosting another similar show in the years ahead.
Persons with an interest in vintage fare are welcome to join the club and they can do so by contacting any member of the executive, or by emailing midroscommonvintageclub@gmail.com.
