Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival
11th August 2013
Country living of bygone years is uniquely presented and re-enacted in a series of demonstrations and displays at the annual Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival. The Festival is a celebration of days gone by, of horse and steam power, vintage displays and crafts. In the cornfield six acres of barley will be harvested by horse drawn reaper and binder and the sheaves stooked and brought to the mills in the festival field for threshing.
This event, which is running since 1976 is a unique event in Ireland and some of the threshing engines on display are the only working models left in Ireland today. Young and old delight in seeing the mighty engines billowing smoke and steam high into the air whilst filling the sacks with barley and clearing the straw. There is a waterwheel on the river and a replica-thatched cottage on the hill, butter churning, woodturning, pottery, basketry, blacksmithing and spinning. Mud turf is run on the bank and there is a demonstration of corn grinding using quern stones. On the hobs bread baking, pancakes, boxty and colcannon are cooked (Irish style) with samples for eating and buying. Delicious roast pig can be sampled later. Refreshments are served in the tearooms beside the Museum. Children love the collection of farm animals, poultry, and piglets and the thrilling fairground with bumping cars, swing boats and roundabouts. Moynalty Steam Threshing is a fantastic day out for all the family.
For further information about this year’s festival contact steamthreshing@eircom.net or visit www.moynaltysteamthreshing.ie
