Moynalty Steam Threshing committee launched this year’s Steam Threshing Festival last Friday evening in their Museum in Moynalty. Each year at its launch they honour one of their committee members for their tremendous work over the years. This year it was the turn of Kieran Clarke who was presented with the Children of Lir trophy. (Front), Jarleth Maguire, Robert Darcy, Fionn Maguire Middle: Claire Darcy, Sarah Darcy, Sharon Darcy, Breda Clarke, Kieran Clarke, Peter Gaynor (MST chairman) Lorraine Maguire, Sinead Clarke. (Back), Emmet Darcy, Karol Clarke, Shane Clarke, Gerard Maguire.

Sounds and sights of a bygone era return to Moynalty Village

Steam Threshing Festival takes place this weekend

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Moynalty Steam Threshing committee launched this year’s Steam Threshing Festival last Friday evening in their Museum in Moynalty. Each year at its launch they honour one of their committee members for their tremendous work over the years. This year it was the turn of Kieran Clarke who was presented with the Children of Lir trophy. (Front), Jarleth Maguire, Robert Darcy, Fionn Maguire Middle: Claire Darcy, Sarah Darcy, Sharon Darcy, Breda Clarke, Kieran Clarke, Peter Gaynor (MST chairman) Lorraine Maguire, Sinead Clarke. (Back), Emmet Darcy, Karol Clarke, Shane Clarke, Gerard Maguire.

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Breda Clarke, Kieran Clarke & Peter Gaynor ( Moynalty Steam Threshin Chairman).

Noelle Finegan

Published: Thu 10 Aug 2023, 11:19 AM

The peace and tranquillity of the picturesque town of Moynalty will once again be broken by the sounds and sights of a bygone era as the Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival gets underway this weekend.

The 48th annual event will take place on the 13th August in the grounds of the Moynalty Steam Threshing Museum and parkland in the heart of the village.

The stage will be set by the Steam Threshing Committee where displays of vanishing work practices and food production can be seen alongside craft making and vintage displays.

It’s a great day out for young and old as it has something for everyone. Displays and demonstrations remind us of how things were for our fore-fathers- horse and steam power, reaping and binding, threshing and flailing.

Traditional crafts such as basket weaving, steel forging, hot shoeing, tin craft, woodturning and harness-making are all to be seen while the local ladies will give demonstrations on making butter at the full-size replica cottage. Brown bread, colcannon, boxty and pancakes will all be cooked on the open fires to taste and available for sale.

Moynalty Steam Threshing also boasts a fantastic museum of artefacts and memorabilia which will be open for viewing throughout the day.

Children will be well-entertained by the amusements on site and can visit the many farm animals on the old-style farm yard or enter their dog in the dog show.

The Irish Lumberjack show is an exciting show of fearless skills and displays of wood-chopping, pole-climbing, chainsaw racing. Loggers compete in a variety of disciplines based on traditional logging skills to determine the best lumberjack skills.

A 'Queen of Steam' competition will be hosted and Jiving competition entries will be taken on the day.

There will be music and craic all day long and this year organisers are proud to announce that the ever-popular Derek Ryan will take to the stage in a grand finale of music.

Music entertainment will be provided throughout the day by the very popular Tumbling Paddies, Matt Leavy, Gavin Gribben, Brian Mullen, Emma Donohue and entertainment from the local Jennifer Brady school of Irish Dancing. The venue is expected to be heaving with fans of country music, culture and crafts of modern and by-gone days.