Trim celebrates haymaking traditions

Scurlogstown Olympiad is gearing up for its annual traditional haymaking festival which takes place in Trim’s Porchfields from 12 noon on Sunday.
Some of the grass has already been mown in preparation for Sunday’s haymaking and the rest will be cut on the day in demonstrations with vintage machinery and horse-drawn mowers, while the scythe-cutters will also be demonstrating their tradition.
Organisers will be keenly keeping an eye on the weather forecast in the hope that there will be plenty of sunshine to create perfect haymaking conditions.
The festival is always a fantastic family day out with plenty of entertainment for all ages, from the play in the  hay for young children to the 'Roll in they Hay’ for any amorous couples willing to take on this hilarious obstacle course.
Among the main events will be the national scythe-cutting and sheaf-tossing competitions, both of which are always closely fought contests.
There will be working machinery and working horse displays as the hay is mowed and raked and Ireland’s only working Silverman hay-cocking machine will also be in action.
There will be plenty of music and dancing with music by the Tara Céilí Band, Matty Leavy and Mary O’Connor, as well as trade stalls to browse as visitors soak up the atmosphere of this unique event.
There will be dog shows, donkey shows and goat shows and Dan O’Hara’s farm will visit again this year where rural village life will be recreated in the thatched cottage village with many skills like butter-making, bread-making and wood-turning on
display.
The festival kicks off at noon this Sunday, 19th June. Entry is €10 for adults while children are free.