December, 2023

Forty-seven years ago in September 1976, Michael and Kate Fitzgerald, of the Half-way House, Aylwardstown, Glenmore hosted an exhibition of threshing involving a steam engine, drum and pitcher. It was the first time in about twenty-five years that old-style threshing took place in the Glenmore area (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17).  

Michael & Kate Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald (1917-1982) was the son of Richard Fitzgerald (1868-1955) and Mary Fitzgerald née Walsh (1884-1962) of Aylwardstown. Michael’s wife, Kate Fitzgerald née Hoynes (1923-2008) was the daughter of John Hoynes (1888-1956) and Maryanne Hoynes née Rigby (1882-1926) of Aylwardstown. Michael and Kate Fitzgerald had six children: (1) Richard Fitzgerald; (2) Mary Fitzgerald; (3) Ann Fitzgerald; (4) Carmel Fitzgerald (1957-1976); (5) John Fitzgerald and (6) Michael Fitzgerald. Tragically the couple lost their daughter Carmel in May 1976.

Planning the Event

The original date for the threshing was Sunday the 19^th of September. The newspapers reported that the summer of 1976 was hot and dry. However, in September a lot of rain fell. The threshing was to take place between 1 and 4 p.m. but had to be abandoned shortly after it commenced on the 19^th due to heavy showers (Munster Express, Fri. 24 Sept. 1976, p. 21).

In an interview in the New Ross Standard, Michael Fitzgerald stated that he deliberately held over barley(sic) and wheat because he thought it was a pity to see the old-style threashing disappear altogether. “For anyone over twenty-five years of age it will remind them of the great threshing days that used to be and it will be an education and thrill for the younger generation who never saw the old fashion threshings” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17).

Michael Fitzgerald put a lot of planning into this threshing event. To make the event as authentic as possible Michael attempted to secure ling fish for the threshing celebration as it was the local custom to serve ling at the old threshing dinners. Unfortunately, he was not able to secure ling and had to settle for another type of fish (Peter Walsh, of Rathinure, threshing volunteer).

Michael “retained about six acres of oats and wheat for threshing.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17). He harvested the rest of his oats and wheat utilising a combine, that cut and threshed in the same operation (Munster Express, Fri. 1 October 1976, p. 22). Michael cut the six acres using a tractor and binder, then stooked and stacked. For the last step of the traditional saving of the crop he drew the stacked oats and wheat into old fashion ricks.

Binding, Stooking & Stacking

When the binder cut the oats it tied it with a binder twine into a sheaf of oats. The sheafs were stood up, against each other, in a stook, with the seed heads on top. This allowed the sheaves to dry. Later, maybe 5 or 6 stooks were made into a stack. The stack would be about six feet tall with the sheaves at the top being placed with their heads down and the stubble facing upwards. This formed a circle at the top of the stack to preserve it from the weather. The stack was then secured with a sugán or rope twisted from straw. When the crops were in stacks they were considered saved.

The stacks were left in the field until they were brought to the haggard where they were then made into a rick which was substantially larger. The rick was made in the shape of a house with an eve going up to an apex. The size of the rick depended on the size of the crops that year. Each type of crop had its own rick.    

The Threshing

The old threshing equipment was supplied by Michael O’Brien, of Ballyknock, Tullogher, and included a steam engine, drum and pitcher. Thirty men from Kilcolumb, Kilmakevogue and Ballygurrim, Glenmore volunteered to help. The newspapers published that RTE was going to be present to film and a modest charge would be collected from spectators to meet incidental costs. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Sept. 1976, p. 17). One of the volunteers said this week that he does not remember RTE being present on either day and no footage could be found in available archives.

In terms of the admission fee, Richard Fitzgerald shared three photos this week from the 1976 threshing. To the right is the photo of May Cashin (1946 -2021) of Aylwardstown collecting at the gate with Michael and John Fitzgerald. One of the side-effects of the old fashion threshing was the fact that “first-class oaten straw” would be available for thatchers. The New Ross Standard published Michael’s phone number for any interested thatchers.

After the threshing was abandoned on the 19^th it resumed on the 26^th which was a dark, oppressive day, but the rain held off. The grain was collected and stored in the safety of the barn. The threshing attracted a large crowd of spectators concluded with a traditional barn dance and celebration (Kilkenny People, Fri. 24 Sept. 1976, p. 15). This article was published two days before the second day of threshing occurred.

Richard Fitzgerald this week revealed that the steam engine and mill were stored in his father’s barn for a few years after the threshing perhaps reflecting the difficulty of moving the heavy old machinery. Richard said that straw bales would be stacked around and on the stored old machinery.

Photos

 The featured photo above was taken by Danny Dowling (1929-2021).  Michael Fitzgerald is standing on the right wearing a hat. The man on the left holding up a bottle of beer is Wattie “Ody” Cody (1928-2009) of Ballycroney, Glenmore. It is believed that the boy on the engine (on the left looks like he is reaching for the beer) is Richard Duggan, of the Garage.

Special thanks to Richard Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, for sharing the other three photos. Special thanks to my resident expert, Peter Walsh, for patiently explaining stooking, stacking and ricking.

For further information on the 1907 Glenmore threshing agreement see our post of 7 August 2022.

Please send any corrections, additional information, or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh