Harvest Day 2023
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De Courcey Harvest Working Day 2022
De Courcey Harvest Working Day will take place on the Hayes Farm, Kilkerran, Ballinspittle, Co. Cork on Bank Holiday Monday 1st August 2022.
Old time tillage and harvest working displays. Competition ploughing. Static displays of stationary engines, cars, tractors and commercial vehicles
Tractor Run
On Sunday 5th November the annual De Courcey tractor run will depart Garrettstown and travel to Ballinadee for the threshing at Corcoran’s Bar. Gathering from 12:00 at Diarmuid Coughlan’s yard (next door up to Blue Horizon Guesthouse). Donations to ARC House Cancer Support Centre. For further info contact Diarmuid on 087 1205025.
Harvest Day Launch
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.
Corcoran’s Threshing Ballinadee
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.
Entry Forms For Harvest Day ’15
A Century of Change
De Courcey Classic and vintage Club, building on the success of the Claas Centenary and the New Holland Basildon 50 celebrations are once again planning a major event for the 2015 August Bank Holiday Monday.
The theme for this year’s event will be “A century of Change”. As in previous years it will of course be a working day. Visitors will be able to see teams of horses working with implements and machinery from bygone farming days as well as the giant harvesters of today and everything in between.
Continuing with our commitment to supporting local causes, this year funds raised will once again go to several local groups in De Courcey’s parish but our main beneficiary will be the ‘Friends of Jamie Wall Trust Fund”.
Friends of Jamie Wall
Jamie Wall is a local young teacher who led a very active life and was much involved in the GAA, playing both hurling and football for Cork in Under 21’s and Minors. Unfortunately Jamie suffered a severe illness in 2014 which left him requiring a great deal of care. ‘The friends of Jamie Wall’ fund was set up to raise funds to support Jamie’s rehabilitation and aid in his goal of once again living an independent life.
The team at De Courcey’s look forward to fine weather on the August Bank Holiday Monday and a great day at our new site in Ballinadee to celebrate the ‘Century of Change’.
Bill Chambers PRO.
Contact John 087 2667296 or Martin 087 6060777.
New site for De Courcey Harvest Day 2015
The De Courcey Classic and Vintage Club held a meeting on 1st Oct last to discuss the venue for our 2015 harvest day on the August bank Holiday Monday. The last four years has seen this event grow and grow in size.
The sponsor for 2014 was New Holland Agriculture and was once again a very successful day thanks in no small part to excellent weather with an attendance of over six thousand spectators.
In previous years the Harvest day has been hosted by Jim and Eileen O’Regan at Barrels Cross near Kinsale. Jim was the person who came up with the original idea for the unique vintage event and his family have pulled out all the stops to make sure the events ran flawlessly.
De Courcey Vintage Club is most grateful to the O’Regan family for the last four years and look forward to returning to Barrels Cross in the future.
2015 however will be different as a new site has been identified adjacent to Ballinadee village on land belonging to Paddy and Ann McCarthy. The new site will be an exciting challenge for the Club members with a new layout to be planned. The preparation for Monday 3rd Aug 2015 is already under way.
Contact Martin 087 6060777, John 2667296
Harvest Day ’14 on Demand
You can now rent or buy the Harvest Day 2014 video on Demand in HD! Watch it anywhere! On mobile, tablet, PC, laptop, Xbox, Apple TV and more.
Ballinadee Threshing
The Ballinadee Threshing at Corcorans Bar will take place this Sunday 2nd of November. A road run for tractors will start at the Blue Horizon, Garrettstown at 12 and proceed to attend Corcorans 21st anniversary threshing. Proceeds to A.R.C. house. Contact Martin 087 6060777 for further details.