Scurlogstown Haymaking Festival in Porchfields on Sunday

Rural traditions of yesteryear will be celebrated in Trim on Sunday as the Scurlogstown Olympiad hosts its annual traditional Haymaking Festival in the Porchfields.

Some of the grass has already been mown in preparation for Sunday’s haymaking and the rest will be cut on the day in displays with vintage tractors and horse-drawn mowers, while the scythe-cutters will also be demonstrating their tradition.
The festival is always a fantastic family day out with plenty of entertainment for all ages, from the funfair & Pets Corner for young children to Dan O'Hara's Farm and live music and set dancing - and new this year, a jiving competition.
All roads will lead to Trim as competitors from Cork, Clare, Kerry and Donegal and throughout the country will travel to the festival to compete in the National Scythe Cutting Championship, which is always hotly contested, as is the sheaf tossing competition.
A new addition to this year's programme is the 'Father's Day Tasks' which will see dads showing off their cleaning and clothes washing skills, nappy changing abilities and expertise at hanging out washing!
The hay, previously mown, will be ready to be cocked in the old fashioned way demonstrating the traditions of yesteryear. The Scurlogstown Olympiad was first held in Scurlogstown in 1968 and Trim Porchfields is now its home. 
The festival has evolved  into a wonderful celebration of all aspects of rural and farm life.
The scythes will be at the ready to show the way the meadow was cut by hand in the traditional way before the days of mechanical mowers, while horse drawn mowers will also be in operation as will the unique hay-cocking machine.
The McShane brothers of Dundalk will have their working horses there while a group from Cushendal in Co Antrim will have their working donkeys, mowing and turning and raking hay. The hay theme very much continues throughout the festival with haycocking and making of sugan ropes.
There will be a traditional Irish village on the River Boyne and at the Dan O'Hara farm you can milk cows, shear sheep, feed the pigs and collect eggs.
You can visit the many craft and trade stalls and enjoy the artisan food fair, while soaking up the wonderful atmosphere.
There will be fishing demonstrations and Trim GAA will give displays and host competitions for the children.
There will be live music from Mary O'Connor, Pat Kelly and the Tara Ceili Band with set dancing throughout the day and a new jiving competition.
The new Trim Brass Band will also be performing.
Other attractions include the dog show, goat show, arts, crafts and home industries as well a pets corner and rare animal breeds. Admission is €10 for adults and free for children with plenty of free parking available.
A huge voluntary effort goes into the running of the show every year between the advance preparations, stewarding on the day and the clean up afterwards.
There is huge support also from An Garda Siochana and Meath County Council to ensure the smooth running of the event every year.
As always, this year's festival was launched with the annual High Nelly Cycle around, Trim, where young and old, many dressed in period costume turned out.
The Trim Haymaking Festival is a family participation event and educates the young in skills, pastimes and work methods of a bygone era, while the elders reminisce as they watch the scythe cutters and sheaf tossers.
The live bands, the set dancing at the old thatched cottage are among the attractions that make the festival a wonderful day out, with all sorts of fun for the children and adults as well as trade stalls to browse as visitors soak up the atmosphere of this unique event.