When I lived in Ireland in 1982, we cut the hay with scythes, cocked it up into stacks, let it dry, loaded it onto donkey carts, took it to the barn. There was a conveyer belt to bring the hay up to the hayloft. A bunch of us women stood up in the loft "stamping" the hay down. We did this as a community for 4 different farms, with a big dinner, dancing, singing and drinking every night. Some of the best times I've had in my life, in Sligo and Mayo, for 6 months.
As a boy I spent many a summers day doing this. In Wales, we called them mwdwl but they were smaller. It was a way of making the hay able to weather a shower of rain until you were able to cart it to the barn. The only difference in my experience was the tractor would have been a team of horses.
Mighty men at work, i remember helping my uncle back in the 80s bring in square bales and he would bring tea and sandwiches to the field and if you were lucky he might bring a six pack of Guiness.lovely video
Great memories of hot summer days cocking the hay. We used to comb the ricks with a rake to encourage water to run down the outside, and the ropes were twisted using a wire coat hanger - apart from that it was very similar, even down to having a lump of a boy tearing around and not quite helping - I was that boy of many occasions 😂
This is how I would stack my one acre hay cut. Cut with a hand held Hayter, my sooper dooper love, turned twice a day by hand before cocking it up and covering with tarps.
We used to stand on top of the 'ruck' as we used to call it and tramp the hay in place as we made sure the 'construction' was secure. We would the ring the rucks into a haystack. at the end of the summer.
I'd liked to have seen what they were going to do with the twisted cordage they were making with the hay, but nice video none the less. I like seeing the family working together, the older generation teaching the younger is invaluable.
Tony Fahy the grass rope is pretty strong. We used to make it with a wire coat hanger bent into a handle shape (so the one in the video was quite posh). You would have two ropes thrown over the stack at right angles to each other, and attached to a third rope that was wrapped around the base.
I remember as a young lad making hay cocks. The welsh word was “mwdwl” We made them quite a bit smaller. Then baling became fashionable and the ancient are of building a mwdwl was lost.
Very illuminating video...I can see that air circulation throughout the stack should be very good like this, but I wonder if it would be possible to do something similar with long, narrow stacks, or would there be a downside to that?
this seems like black magic. make rope out hay to tie hay up with? think build hand bale squre baler even round baller so Roll bale like wheel barn. but think grow flax get string. break hard stalk get blond hair look stuff tie nots got rope this real rope. no breaks.
Nowadays youth is wasted on the young but here it’s put to damn good use. Love this. 🤙🏽
When I lived in Ireland in 1982, we cut the hay with scythes, cocked it up into stacks, let it dry, loaded it onto donkey carts, took it to the barn. There was a conveyer belt to bring the hay up to the hayloft. A bunch of us women stood up in the loft "stamping" the hay down. We did this as a community for 4 different farms, with a big dinner, dancing, singing and drinking every night. Some of the best times I've had in my life, in Sligo and Mayo, for 6 months.
Nice to see the old style and weather was good too😊
Great video Tony, great bit of history here! A very rare sight nowadays.
As a boy I spent many a summers day doing this. In Wales, we called them mwdwl but they were smaller. It was a way of making the hay able to weather a shower of rain until you were able to cart it to the barn. The only difference in my experience was the tractor would have been a team of horses.
Mighty men at work, i remember helping my uncle back in the 80s bring in square bales and he would bring tea and sandwiches to the field and if you were lucky he might bring a six pack of Guiness.lovely video
Thanks for the memories. Great video.
Great memories of hot summer days cocking the hay. We used to comb the ricks with a rake to encourage water to run down the outside, and the ropes were twisted using a wire coat hanger - apart from that it was very similar, even down to having a lump of a boy tearing around and not quite helping - I was that boy of many occasions 😂
Lovely memories...and making a hay rope
This way of farming has long since gone ,lovely memories of my youth.
Ah lovely stuff! well done everyone
This is how I would stack my one acre hay cut. Cut with a hand held Hayter, my sooper dooper love, turned twice a day by hand before cocking it up and covering with tarps.
We used to stand on top of the 'ruck' as we used to call it and tramp the hay in place as we made sure the 'construction' was secure.
We would the ring the rucks into a haystack. at the end of the summer.
Exactly. This method is far too loose, would be flattened by the next wind.
I'd liked to have seen what they were going to do with the twisted cordage they were making with the hay, but nice video none the less. I like seeing the family working together, the older generation teaching the younger is invaluable.
Shamus Todd It was quite strong. I'll see if I can get you an answer...
They were making ropes to secure the haycocks!! The instruction was always ' twist and go back' .......................
Tony Fahy the grass rope is pretty strong. We used to make it with a wire coat hanger bent into a handle shape (so the one in the video was quite posh). You would have two ropes thrown over the stack at right angles to each other, and attached to a third rope that was wrapped around the base.
Nice to see the rope being made to tie them down. I can't remember it being done that way in Mayo when I was young.
In galway we called it a soogone not correct spelling but the twist and pull from the bottom best rope of all .
Happy memories
Always wanted to do a kock of hay my great grandfather told me 2 weeks ago about hay but I am a child so I cant decide but I do live on a farm
I remember as a young lad making hay cocks. The welsh word was “mwdwl” We made them quite a bit smaller. Then baling became fashionable and the ancient are of building a mwdwl was lost.
I loved the smell of hay
Very illuminating video...I can see that air circulation throughout the stack should be very good like this, but I wonder if it would be possible to do something similar with long, narrow stacks, or would there be a downside to that?
We used to put 3 Hazel sticks tied together on the top, so that the hay would not heat.
Most of it will not get spoiled using this technique I take it? Pretty cool. Thanks for the upload. I will try it.
Nope it last through all winter feeding the cows and sheepies
I need something to wash the hay dust down! How about a pint of stout.
Is that Martin Flaherty on the tractor?
Good video thanks for sharing👴.
What is the name of the machine attachment that is gathering up the hay?
I am Indian our father did this long ago but like it
I would have liked to have heard an explanation of the technique used, not everything is visibly apparent.
Otherwise, a lovely video.
Excellent.
Cool
oh for god sakes
this seems like black magic. make rope out hay to tie hay up with? think build hand bale squre baler even round baller so Roll bale like wheel barn. but think grow flax get string. break hard stalk get blond hair look stuff tie nots got rope this real rope. no breaks.
can feed rope to goats or cows? had hay hate that goat eat but held together sawing thread so get back very fast get ride hat.
wot if it rains
I get wet
They water proof it