Turf Cutting Contest, Meedin, Co. Westmeath, Ireland 1982

Preparing for the All Ireland Turf Cutting Championships in Meedin bog in County Westmeath.
In spite of new technology, traditional methods of turf cutting are tried and trusted and will take a long time to die out.
It is back breaking work, the kind that few town dwellers would be able for.
Good weather is needed to work on the bog. And it is good weather they are hoping for at Meedin bog, outside Tyrrellspass in County Westmeath, as they prepare to host the All Ireland Turf Cutting Championships on 4 July 1982.
Mark Gavin is one of the event’s organisers and he explains the rules governing the All Ireland Turf Cutting Championships.
The first turf cutting competition took place at The Downs, Mullingar in County Westmeath on 20 May 1936. The event was presided over by Minister for Defence Frank Aiken and was won by Tom Daly. Larry Caffrey attended the 1936 event as a boy and has donated the trophy for the 1982 All-Ireland Turf Cutting Championships.
Paddy Gavin demonstrates the wing sleán turf cutter which has been used since the 1936 competition. Turf cutting is an art and Paddy Gavin has no time for the turf cut by modern machinery,
Oh you couldn’t compare the turf at all, turf cut with this sleán here is far superior.
The owners of Meedin bog are considering what to do with the turf cut during the competition,
There’s talk about them donating it to a worthy charity.
Out of the 26 turf cutting teams participating in the All-Ireland Turf Cutting Championships, the winners were John Ennis’s team which included his brother Joe and Denis Kelly from Tyrrellspass. Liam Caffrey presented them with the trophy and a cheque for £100 at a dance held in Whelehans, Rochfortbridge in County Westmeath.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 June 1982. The reporter is Peter McNiff.
The track accompanying this clip is ‘The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)’ by The Wurzels.

[@alllovingcowherdboy4475]

There is nothing worse than a rainy day in the bog except for two rainy days in the bog

[@Albert_O_Balsam]

Riveting stuff here.

[@patrickboyle6727]

It actually is great stuff isn't it Michael

[@waitwhatrly]

Clap hands for the sound guy

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

Yes it's excellent!

[@noelmaher4633]

When SHAWS almost nationwide dressed the whole of rural Ireland..

[@alllovingcowherdboy4475]

I roamed the lovely, ever changing, most amazing life filled, bogs as a boy and came to love them but fifty years on they are almost all gone due to the greedy, and needy, farmer desiring more acreage for mono crop grass for his stock and a bigger tractor to speed around on

[@FabianMacGintyONeill]

It's a national tragedy imo

[@FabianMacGintyONeill]

It's possible to have a lot of respect for the old arts of turf cutting but also think that we should now preserve our precious bogs as carbon sinks and wildlife reserves.
I don't really have a problem with hand cutting, my problem is with Harte peat scraping the land barren with industrial machinery

[@conneellyp]

When times was good compared to this snow flake world we live in today 😏

[@slaneyside]

take a day off pal