The Sliabh Bán Harvest Festival which takes place this Sunday, September 29th was officially launched by Ciaran Mullooly, MEP recently in Frank’s of Ballybeg.
Guest of Honour MEP Mullooly praised the committee for instigating the idea of the festival and said it was important to show the present generation the machinery, the ways and the characters of the past. He said he was glad that the threshing would take place as it still has an attraction for young and old.
At the well attended launch were members of the Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club, who are hosting the festival, along with local councillors and Senator Eugene Murphy.
Preparations are in full swing for the festival which will be held on the farm of the late Mr Frank Harrington, beside Ballybeg, Strokestown at the foothills of Sliabh Ban. There will be something of interest for everyone, young, old and not so old!
Among the major items on show will be a working vintage stone-crusher that’s at least one hundred years old.
Another attraction at the show will be a fully operational threshing mill. At one time every parish had at least one of these machines and they were kept busy in the harvest time going from farm to farm threshing oats and barley that had been grown on all Irish farms up until the 1960s. The thresher will be threshing oats throughout the day.
Another attraction from those days is the blacksmith. There will be one present with his mobile forge to give a demonstration of how iron was worked into tools and implements in the days of yore. The farrier was another important part of the rural scene and we will see how a horse was shod in the days of horse and cart transport.
On the tractor and machinery side there will be all the familiar makes of vintage tractors, including Ford, Ferguson, David Brown, etc and not forgetting the impressive Lanz ‘Buldog’ tractors. There will be hay-making machines and reaper and binder, ploughs, finger bar horse machines, etc.
For the vintage car enthusiasts there will be a selection of classic and vintage cars on display including the striking Ford Model T. This car will be exhibited by Gerry Bratton, Co Longford.
There will also be a variety of craftspeople present, showing off wares including a wood turner and tinsmith, etc. Representatives of the Mohill Country Markets will be making boxty and brown soda bread. There will be trade stands too. For the young there will be fun fair, horse and carriage rides, face-painting and much more. There will also be live music on the day with local artist Frank Nelson.
*Anyone who owns vintage cars, tractors, machinery or implements is invited to take them along and showcase them in the display.
