The Last Bagger - Bord na Móna Living History

[@PeterLavin-yo9lk]

Great to see this video of this complex machine working as it was intended and interesting that one has survived. I worked in Mountdillon Works and as a young chap in the 1980s. I remember seeing some of these machines lying around waiting to be cut up for scrap metal. The Bagger was fabled, older employees there spoke with affection (mostly!) about working/driving/fixing these. Great times, good employment and skills learned, and also providing some amount of energy security, although now well out of fashion an energy source.

[@davidflanagan5884]

We still have one of these working, all going well it will be cutting in this year!

[@michaelnolan633]

Where have you this,I'd love to take my father to see it, he drove Bagger 6 at Clonsast and Derryounce , Offaly.

[@davidflanagan5884]

@@michaelnolan633 were just outside castlerea In Roscommon

[@paddygrace3309]

Is this bagger still going? Same as the reply above, would love to bring my father to see it.

[@davidflanagan5884]

@@paddygrace3309 yes it's running, hasn't cut in a couple years but is fully functional

[@paddygrace3309]

@@davidflanagan5884 Thanks for the reply, Do you think it would be possible to go and see it? Or how could I find out?

[@freemindthinkerezrapound5071]

What a historical shame they never spoke to the operators and no narration and then some thick gobshite put music/noise in the background preventing the great sounds that fantastic machine would have made

[@oswaldmoser9719]

Very true. Could have been a great window into the past for future generations. Sadly a cursory glance at bord na mona and You'll see its trying to be one of these soulless sterile neoliberal companies.

[@jamesdaly6885]

Whats the bets bord na mona let it go for scrap all this should be preserved as it irish industrial heritage.A museum should of being built on a cutaway somewhere.

[@obuma6459]

I absolutely agree...

[@oswaldmoser9719]

What happened it?

[@adammurray7865]

@@oswaldmoser9719 it was probably left on the bog knowing the bord

[@PeterLavin-yo9lk]

Yes, the majority of these machines were cut up for scrap metal in the 1980s as BnM moved to concentrate on milled peat for supply to the ESB power stations.

[@PaddyJoe]

They moved so slowly, you could stand your motor bike against the machine, go into the cab and have a cup of tea. When you came out your bike had not fallen over!

[@dalyr32]

great piece of footage

[@owenmccarthy6935]

The music ruins this video....