Traditional Hay Making

This short video shows traditional hay making in Ireland as it was done in 1930's.. Filmed at Muckross Traditional Farms Killarney Ireland, this video shows the steps required to make hay back at the start of the last century. A selection of vintage machinery is used, with the power being supplied by the horses. The hay was of upmost importance on farms as it would provide food for the animals during the winter. Both a history lesson and a piece of nostalgia for those who seen this practise being carried out, this videos ends with the iconic sight of the hay cart bringing the hay home.
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[@Fishcop-326]

Inside our old barn there is the monorail and hooks that they used to put in loose hay. The walls in the wagon shed still have the harnesses and tack for the horses they used. I only wish that old barn could talk and tell some stories of days gone by.

[@noelkeane5603]

I’ve been there and done that back in the 60’s, where shaking out and wyneing the hay was concerned. My Da did have a little Grey Fergie 20 TVO tractor and a Fergie mowing bar. The hay cart attached to the tractor via an adopted hitch unit. The cocks that we always knew as wynes were left in the meadow for weeks and by the time that drawing in came, there always was about 6”s of after grass. When well built and raked down, they kept the rain out like a thatched roof. Our Summer holidays back then were decided between the meadow, the bog, carting home the hay, stooking corn and weeding and thinning turnips in the garden. Milking time was almost like a break. Certainly no time to be bored back in those days!!

[@j.h.customsireland]

My uncle still has the pierce hay equipment both the yoke the horse would drag and the one like the one shown in the video these were from my grandad who has sadly past on march of this year and id alway askhim about the old gear like whats used in this video my uncle and these video's is now my only source of information on how some horse drawn machinery and how things that were done way back and i found these videos have helpe me get through the rough time i was in from grandad passing on and i watch these and the storys come flowning back from when he use to tell me so these videos mean alot to me as to many others so thank you irish farming and if theres any more videos like these please keep em coming

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

We cut and turn hay by hand still 2021. I'm in the process of turning it this month. Makes great bedding for chickens and winter feed for goats

[@patrickmurphy9266]

I've just found a hay tumbler rake in an old barn I've just bought . I'd only a rough idea how it worked . What a fantastic labour saving device on those hot summer days.

[@ArchFundy]

When I was a kid in the late '50's, early 60's, there was still one traditional farmer in our neighborhood. He would get us kids to ride in the hay wagon, (much bigger than the cart shown here), to pack the hay down as they pitched it aboard. When it was in the barn we would be allowed to jump from the upper deck or rafters to pack it in the barn. Great memories of kind, hardworking ppl.

[@TomMcClean]

What a vast amount of arduous manual work all done in next to no time by big machines today. Good stuff!

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Chris, There are a number of reasons for farmers going bankrupt. Poor prices offered by the big supermarkets chains for milk, beef and grain in the market place. EU stringent regulations on this that and the other. Farmers have to jump through so many financially draining hoops to satisfy safe food requirements. The high cost of hiring or buying the needed machinery. The banks own these harvesters etc The banks can stop these machines in the field if monthly checks are not forthcoming. Wages and insurance for farm workers mean that many farmers cannot afford to pay for hired help. As the farmer gets older he simply can't do the work on his.her own.

[@TomMcClean]

You are dead right there Chris. The small farmer is completely squeezed out and the whole thing is run on a debt basis. This does not augur well for our children's future. ps I have my own channel called Tom Mcclean Positive Belfast if you ever want to see what living just outside Belfast Northern Ireland is like. Best wishes

[@TomMcClean]

Hi again Chris, This is tough going for you a time of cool heads and big decisions. I hear what you are saying about it not being worth the effort. A lot of local famers have made this decision. A lot of them have diversified into farming and something else eg farming and farm shop, farming and tourism eg glamping, farming and running a childrens farm ( Family-friendly demonstration farm with animals, tractor rides, nature trails & housemade ice cream ) farming and wildlife tours, farming and traditional beer making, farming and bee keeping. Then some guys have looked into building rare breed herds, deer herds, alpacas breeding. As an interested townee I can sympathize with your predicament but I just wouldn't know how to advise you. I simply say i wish you well. I think you are being wise though.

[@johnthompson9444]

Thanks for the upload, keep them coming...

[@kickstar126]

We knew this hay turner as 'the tumbling paddy', the small haystacks we called 'haycocks' they were normally moved by a sleigh device called a 'slipe'

[@kalpaneenicholos4627]

Thank u.... give this video ☺️

[@FisherKot]

Great video.

[@johncourtneidge]

Superb! Thank-you!

[@richardwaechter5426]

Good historic info

[@LaidBackHomesteader]

great video

[@patrickmoore8428]

HOWARD OF BEDFORD hay rake like the one in your video. It has a mechanism on the wheels that seems to be used to raise the rake tines. Does anyone know how it worked. I cannot find details anywhere or anyone that used one in the past.

[@SimonPertus]

I have a question. If older grass is less nutritious, why would farmers cut it relativly later after this fact was discoverd? 0:00

[@sallymoen6371]

These are farm tools and implements I have never heard of! I was especially amazed by the hay cart bringing the entire stack of hay onto the cart without spillage. And the grass rope! Wow. Farming really was for the clever. It probably still is, but with different skills in tractor mechanics and machining, not assembling a grass rope. I have worked a hay field before, hoisting up 75-pound bales onto a wagon then stacking bales higher and higher into a barn. There's a method for moving them without hurting your back, but you learn to always wear long sleeves and pants to prevent scratches. And expect your nose and mouth to get congested from all the hay dust. The worst part was when the mower impaled a field mouse or rabbit, yuck.

[@muhammadmansha2076]

Sir you from, please tell me

[@cottagemommy5116]

Why do I get the feeling that these people have forgotten more than we'll ever know!

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

For sure.. Thanks for commenting , Chris

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

Imagine the days when you could just get drunk and do that all day. These days the best you can hope for is weekends.