Castledermot hosted its first vintage day on Sunday 23rd September 2007 on the Corcoran farm on the Tullow Road, Castledermot, Co. Kildare.
The event was in memory of Ann Hyland (née Corcoran) of Rosebran, Athy, (and formerly of St. Mels’, Walkinstown and Davidstown, Castledermot), who passed away from cancer on 4th July 2007. It was organised by her extended family and friends, the Corcorans, Hylands, and Horans, who wanted to fulfil Ann’s wish to have a threshing day on the farm where she grew up, and raise money for cancer care services in our local Kildare hospital in Naas.
It was Castledermot’s FIRST vintage day and it was a phenomenal success, raising over €22,000, which completely exceeded our expectations. For our first vintage day that was organised in the space of about six weeks, we are ecstatic about the large sum raised for the cancer care services in Naas Hospital (in particular we hope to buy special palliative care beds for cancer patients).
The event kicked off on Saturday night, 22nd September with a parade of steam engines through the town of Castledermot and a benefit night in The Castle Inn, Castledermot, where there was a display of steam engines and the traditional steam-powered carnival organ playing, as well as music, barbeque and a raffle with some fantastic prizes. The threshing and vintage day on Sunday 23rd was a great success, with lovely weather and a fantastic turn-out on the day, with a huge crowd attending (in excess of 1000 people and over 150 vintage machines).
Everyone commented on how enjoyable the day was for the young and old, with a perfect traditional, informal, non-commercialised feel to the event. There were threshing machines in operation, several steam engines, and a huge display and parade of all sorts of vintage tractors, trucks, fire engines, cars, and so much more. Fan of vintage particularly enjoyed the parade of a wide array of vintage tractors, steam engines, trucks, fire engines, and cars.
Families had a great day out, with all the sideshows and stalls, the funfair, and lots of competitions, with the welly-throwing and sheaf-pitching competitions going down particularly well.
Winners of the sheaf-pitching were Joe Kehoe for the men’s and Eibhlin Haughney in the women’s competition. Seamus Corcoran won the men’s title for the welly-throwing competition and the Hyland families were particularly successful in the women’s and children’s welly-throwing with Miss Hyland of Ballyfoyle winning the women’s, and Bridget and Maura Hyland winning prizes in the children’s competition.
The event was a wonderful memorial to Ann Hyland, and a special day for the Corcoran and Hyland families, who were deeply touched by the fantastic support. There was a large contingent from Castledermot and Athy, and counties of Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, and further afield with some people travelling from as far as Louth and England to be there on the day.
The event is most definitely going to become an annual occurrence with everyone promising to return next year for an even bigger event. We would like to say a heart-felt “Thank You” to everyone for their support and hope that they will continue to support Castledermot Threshing and Vintage Working Day for years to come.
Thanks to all who helped organise the event and all who volunteered to help on the day. We want to thank all our sponsors, including Horans Maxol & Mace Service Station Castledermot, Walsh Civil Engineering, The Dales Pub Castledermot, The Castle Inn Castledermot, Woodies DIY, Kilkea Castle, Ramada Killerig, TopGifts.ie, Walshes Pub Killerig, Keatley Concrete, Bord na Mona, Deasy Photography Newbridge, Celtic Hampers, Curragh Golf Club, Athy Golf Club, Tom Kearney Construction Castledermot, John Horan & Sons, Anthony Quinn (QDC Builders Limited), and so many more who gave donations and prizes.
See you all again next year at Castledermot Threshing & Vintage Working Day.