Evergreen Moynalty Steam Threshing attracts 40,000

Up to 40,000 people attended the 35th annual Steam Threshing Festival which took place in Moynalty in brilliant sunshine on Sunday. The Minister for Tourism, Mary Hanafin, and Meath County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Anne Dillon Gallagher, officially opened the festival, which was a celebration of horse and steam power with vintage displays, trading stalls, crafts, face-painting, sideshows, funfair, music and dancing. The sunshine ensured the biggest ever crowd at the festival which saw country living of bygone years re-enacted in a series of demonstrations and displays. Acres of oats were harvested by all sorts of methods from the scythe to horse-drawn reaper and binder and vintage combine harvesters. The full range of old-style threshing by steam engines, horse, flail and tractor formed the centrepiece of the afternoon with a spectacular display of horse and steam power. The farm museum was packed all day and there was huge interest in the displays by the blacksmith, tinsmith and wool spinning. New this year was the tractor-building challenge with teams from Inishowen, Mountbellew and Northern Ireland taking part. The dog show also attracted a lot of interest and the Garda Mounted Unit was also present. There was a massive display of vintage tractors, cars and stationary engines, with machinery arriving from early morning. Animals of all shapes, breeds and sizes were on display and spectators were well-fed with pancakes, boxty and colcannon cooked over open turf fires. Navan Travellers' Workshop were among the many exhibitors with their colourful caravan and some native Americans also put on a display of their traditional dress, music and crafts. There was plenty of music and performances throuhout the day and Dessie Hynes provided music at the dancing deck. There was a water-wheel and mud turf-making on the bank of the river and all sorts of fairground attractions for children. All proceeds from the festival will go towards worthy causes and it is expected that the money raised on Sunday will push the amount raised by the festival over the past 35 years to over the €1 million mark. Sean Sheridan of the festival committee thanked everyone who helped out in any way by working at the event or giving sponsorship, and particularly the Gardai and stewards.