Below,Tom tells us about the harvest:
In late harvest, the arrival of the threshing machine brought great excitement. A meitheal (team) of eight or ten neighbours took part in the work of attending the machine. Patrick Kilkenny from Tooma did the threshing for the most part of Cloone/Aughavas.
In late harvest, the arrival of the threshing machine brought great excitement. A meitheal (team) of eight or ten neighbours took part in the work of attending the machine. Patrick Kilkenny from Tooma did the threshing for the most part of Cloone/Aughavas.
Meitheal, Roscommon 1949
This photograph shows neighbours working together to do the threshing. It was taken in 1949. At this time neighbouring farmers always helped each other to do big jobs on their farms. This was called the Meitheal.
Courtesy of Jim RogersMeitheal, Roscommon 1949
Courtesy of Jim Rogers
Courtesy of Jim Rogers
Meitheal, Roscommon 1949
This photograph shows neighbours working together to do the threshing. It was taken in 1949. At this time neighbouring farmers always helped each other to do big jobs on their farms. This was called the Meitheal.
Courtesy of Jim RogersThe first threshing machines were driven by steam. A tank of water, located over the engine and heated by a fire, created the steam to run the engine, which in turn supplied power to a pulley wheel which turned the belt connected to the thresher itself, thus putting it in motion.
In the process, grain was separated from the straw. Many hands were needed for this work and hence the 'meitheal', which is the Gaelic term for a team of workers, was assembled.
Father and sons
This is an old photograph of a father and his two sons working together making hay.
Father and sons
Father and sons
This is an old photograph of a father and his two sons working together making hay.
One man would cut the ties from the sheaves while another fed the drum on the mill. The straw came out one end, on two wooden planks, called kickers. Bags were attached on hooks at the opposite end and the oats were collected therein.
The full bags were temporarily stacked, and empty bags were placed on the hooks. The process continued until all the oats were gathered and stored. The straw was stacked into a rick and secured with ropes.
The full bags were temporarily stacked, and empty bags were placed on the hooks. The process continued until all the oats were gathered and stored. The straw was stacked into a rick and secured with ropes.