By Dan Walsh at Rathangan Country Fair
A century of various crop harvesting methods was staged as a successful world record attempt at the annual Rathangan Country Fair, specially titled A Century of Harvest, held today in summer conditions at Rathangan village in south Wexford.
Fourteen methods of harvesting the grain crops from the 20th century were all working together in the same field at the same time! It was an amazing sight and a colourful flashback to all associated with the farming methods that evolved traditionally from the days before horse-drawn implements to the modern combined harvesters.
The Country Fair was officially opened by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy TD, in the presence of Noel Grealish TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Cllr Frank Staples, Leas-Cathaoirleach Rosslare Municipal District and Cllr Jim Codd,
There was a large attendance that included Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association and the National Ploughing Champion 2024, Martin Kehoe, Foulksmills – three times world champion – who represents Ireland in the World Ploughing Championships in the Czech Republic later this year.
There was a warm welcome from Ray Rochford, Chairperson of Rathangan Country Fair Committee. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone here today, to this unique and once-off event called ‘A Century of Harvest’.
“This event demonstrated the various methods of harvesting across Ireland over the past 100 years,” said Mr Rochford, who added; “To our knowledge this is the first time these methods are demonstrated simultainously within the same field.”
A wonderful 24-page catalogue was published in connection with the event.
The large attendance had access to food outlets, singing and dancing, a thatching display, threshing display, straw cropping and other attractions and watched Tipperary beat Cork in the All-Ireland senior hurling final at Croke Park on the big screen.
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