Harvest Day Launch

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The August Bank Holiday Monday is almost upon us and excitement is growing in DeCourcey Country. We have a change of venue this year as the annual Harvest Working day moves to the farm of Derry Desmond in Harbour View, Kilbrittain.

On the evening of Tuesday 18th July, the De Courcey Vintage Club members, gathered with Friends of Bandon Community Hospital and the Ballinspittle Comhaltas group to attend the official launch of the Harvest day at the wonderful new site overlooking Courtmacsherry bay on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The large site will have plenty of space to accommodate the usual working areas with continuous displays of harvesting, tilling, and horse work throughout the day. Visitors to previous events will be aware of the range of machines from horse drawn reapers to trailer combines and early self-propelled models to modern giant harvesters that will be seen working on the day. Each year the number of machines grows and we are looking forward to seeing some recently restored vintage combines doing their thing at our event for the first time.

This year we will also have silage cutting which is a first for De Courcey’s and we are really excited about it. The emphasis will be on vintage and rare machines but Claas Farm Machinery will also be using the event to promote their latest silage harvesters. The Claas display will also be a must see for all tractor and machinery fans. We will be very fortunate to be able to display the latest Claas Jaguar 970 silage harvester working at the event. A big De Courcey thanks to Claas agent, Tim McCarthy of McCarthy plant and agri. sales Carriogtwohill for his support.

All working combines must register before the event. Silage cutting slots will be allocated before the event but anyone bringing equipment will be able to display in the static area.
For up to date Club News and entry forms, please check the facebook page or our website www.decourceyvintage.com.

Bill Chambers P.R.O. DeCourcey Classic and Vintage Club. 087 2844197.

Ford 100 Vintage Run

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De Courcey Classic & Vintage club took part in the Ford 100 years in Cork celebrations in a vintage run from the old Ford Factory in Cork to Cork Showgrounds on the 17th of June.

Harvest Day 2017

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John O’Neill, Derry Desmond and Simon Draper from DeCourcey Vintage Club inspect the crop at Harbour view, Kilbrittain, site of this year’s harvest day on the August Bank Holiday.

The De Courcey Harvest working day will take place on the August bank holiday Monday. This year the event will be held at a new site in Harbour View, Kilbrittain, Co Cork. It will take place on the farm of De Courcey Club member Derry Desmond. The club is most grateful to Derry for making the site available to us.

Ever since the hugely successful 2013 Harvest day celebrating the 100th anniversary of Claas farm machinery, the De Courcey Classic and Vintage Club has had close contact with the Claas company. We are delighted to announce that in 2017 we will once again be running the event in partnership with Claas. This year will feature many new additions to the range of exhibits and as always the focus will be on activity, with a huge array of vintage machines working at the event.

Claas are launching their latest silage harvester in the jaguar range the 970 in November 2017. Two of these machines have already been sold pre- launch in the West Cork region. It will be possible to see one these machines working at the De Courcey event. The 970 will be working alongside older harvesters to emphasise the vastly increased capacity of the new machine.

Some of the new activities at this year’s Harvest Day will include silage cutting with a selection of machines including single chop, double chop, precession cut up to self-propelled. Rare machines will be seen working, types like the Dania D5000 self- propelled and Hesston Field Queen self- propelled and star of the show will of course be the latest jaguar 970 .

Claas will have a significant presence at this event with sales stand, machinery displays, merchandising etc. Tim McCarthy from McCarthy plant and agri sales, Carrigtwohill will be on hand to answer any questions people may have about the Claas range of machines.

We look forward to fine weather and a great day out on Monday 7th August in Kilbrittain.

www.decourceyvintage.com and FB.com/decourceyvintageclub.

Historical Talk & Film show

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De Courcey Vintage Club present a Historical talk & film show about the 1954 World Ploughing in Killarney & other events by Mr Robert Kidd, with special guest newly elected chairman of the National Ploughing Association, Mr Denis Keohane,  at Kilmacsimon Community Centre on Monday 1st May at 8pm

Corcoran’s Threshing Ballinadee

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The Ransome’s thresher belonging to John O’Neill was once again star attraction at the old time threshing in aid of ARC House Cancer Support Centre at Corcoran’s Bar Ballinadee on Sunday 6th November. As always Chris, Joanie and family put on a great show and the weather could not have been kinder.

This year there was a change to the vintage run with the day’s events started in Ballinspittle instead of Garrettstown. Organised by the De Courcey vintage Club the tractors began forming up at midday outside the CO-OP before departing at 1 PM and travelled in convoy to Ballinadee village, where they lined up outside of Corcoran’s on display for the afternoon. Michael O Sullivan’s David Brown 1410 and Rory Crowley’s Fiat 1000 together made a nice pair with the Corcoran’s sign behind them. Jim Connolly’s amazing triple Doe Major set-up was the talk of the day and Denis O Reilly’s Roadless Ploughmaster 75 was also a very interesting addition to the tractors on show.

In the yard beside the pub, John O’Neill had his B-450 International lined up to the Ransome’s thresher and rare Claas trusser. Jim Footman soon had the sheaves flying and Richie Sweetnam was feeding the thresher for the evening. All around the machine there was activity as the sheaves went through on top, grain poured into sacks and chaff flew around the threshing crew.

There were several vintage cars on display. Special mention must go to Gus Murphy and his beautiful DKW.  Raymond White from Ballinspittle had a display of historic artefacts on show. Con Ahern and Pat O Neill had a horse drawn scuffler in action down in the haggard and drew a fascinated crowd when the threshing men took a break midway through the afternoon.

Break over! it was back to work in the November sunshine until the stack of sheaves was gone and the grain sacks were filled. The event was very well attended with a nice crowd in Corcoran’s yard for the evening watching the threshing and enjoying the chat with friends and neighbours.

When the work was done the threshing team were called to the parlour for supper. There were some fascinating stories told of bygone days, accidents and blackguarding at threshing’s long ago. After the meal true to the threshing tradition of old, it was out with the musical instruments with another great night of music and song.

On the day there was €2,396 raised for ARC House and the Corcoran family would like to express sincere thanks to all who helped especially the local musicians who without fail provide wonderful entertainment at events throughout year.

Bill Chambers P.R.O. DeCourcey Classic and Vintage Club.

Ballinadee Threshing

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The Old time threshing will take place at Corcorans Bar, Ballinadee at 2P.M. on Sunday 6th of November.

The event is to raise funds for ARC House cancer support center.

This year the vintage run to Ballinadee will leave from the CO-OP in Ballinspittle .
Vehicles gathering at 12:00 in Ballinspittle

De Courcey Harvest Day 2016 Presentation Night

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On Saturday the 1st of October the De Courcey Classic and Vintage Club held a presentation night at Corcorans Bar, Ballinadee. The Club had funds raised at the 2016 Harvest Working day to distribute to local organisations. This year the Club had €8,500 to present to the various groups.

The main beneficiaries were The Irish Guide Dogs for the blind, who received €4,000. Anne Burns along with her daughter Shirley and guide dog Ruby were on hand to accept the cheque on behalf of the organisation.  Representatives from Ballinadee Development Assoc.,  An Foroige, Courcey Rovers Camogie and ladies football Club were also in attendance to receive €1,500 each. This brings the total amount donated by the club in the last seven years to over €85,500.

The 2016 Harvest day was a challenge for the club. The usual August Bank Holiday Monday was a wash out, forcing the event to be rescheduled to the following Sunday. However despite this the Club members and local people pulled together and managed to run a very successful event on the farm of Paddy and Ann McCarthy in Ballinadee. Club Chairman John O Neil also gave a special presentation to the McCarthy’s in appreciation for the use of their land for the event.

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We would like to once again thank all who sponsored prizes for our raffle, Mick Forde from The Farm Grenagh, The McCarthy and Twomey families and all the local groups and individuals who contributed to making the day such a great success.Thanks also to the Corcoran family for providing plenty of refreshments for all at the presentation night.

The Clubs next event will be the road run and threshing at Ballinadee on Sunday 6th of November in aid of ARC House cancer support centre.

Bill Chambers P.R.O. De Courcey Classic and Vintage Club.

De Courcey Harvest Day 2016 – Event Report

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The 6th Annual Harvest Day on Sunday 7th August, celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the Ferguson Brown tractor, the first of the Ferguson range, and there were many example of that line both working and displayed at the event which was held in glorious sunshine.

The official opening was performed by Andrew Pollocks, editor of the Irish Vintage Scene magazine.

Following the opening Mick Forde from ‘The Farm’ Grenagh gave a fascinating presentation of the history of Harry Ferguson from the centre of the Ferguson display.

Then it was on to the action. Vintage combines, the oldest being a 1949 Massey Harris through to the trailed combines and on to the self propelled models took to the field.

For the next two hours the crowds soaked up the sights and sounds of the vintage harvesters moving through the corn. JJ Hayes was on the speaker describing each model as it carried out its task.

Throughout the day old time harvesting was displayed with binders, stooking and steam threshing. The catering side was busy with Barracuda, Clonakilty Blackpudding and the club hospitality tent busy all day satisfying the crowds.

As usual for the De Courcey event the days work finished with a grand finale of all Harvesters cutting in precise formation.

The event rounded off with refreshments, music and dance.

One of the final events was the Harvest Day raffle, with the winners being:

1st Michael O’Sullivan, Kilgobblin – Trip for two to London

2nd John O’Brien, Farrangalway, Kinsale – Two Nights Accommodation in Killarney

3rd Nattie Downing, Old Head – Golf 4-Ball at Kinsale Golf Club

4th Martin Miller, Bandon – Football signed by Roy Keane

5th Teddy McCarthy, Bantry – Meal for two at the Speckled Door, Old Head

This years event was in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and local groups.

De Courcey Classic & Vintage Club Classic and Vintage Club would like to thank Paddy and Ann McCarthy for the great site and everyone that supported the event.