One of the star attractions of this year’s Ploughing vintage displays was the beautifully restored Deutz tractor that was used by Ireland’s first world champion ploughman, the late Charlie Keegan from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

Charlie’s grandson Michael Keegan has found the tractor and, 10 years after Charlie’s death, Michael has restored it to its former glory, just in time to show it proudly in a prominent location at the entrance to the National Ploughing Association’s headquarters at this year’s event.

The Deutz D40L model was the one used by Charlie Keegan when he ploughed with a two-furrow Kverneland Hydrein plough in Austria. The three-cylinder 40hp tractor was not very popular at the time, although it created great excitement at Deutz, as it was the first time one of the tractors had won the coveted world title. The Irish agents for the tractor were McNeill’s of Collinstown, Dublin, which is now adjacent to the Dublin Airport.

Michael brought his grandfather’s original tractor home to his farmyard nine months ago as a rusty old tractor. The restoration only began in March and the tractor was finally ready this week, with lots of help along the way, in time to celebrate 50 years since Charlie brought the world title to Ireland.

“The three weeks leading up to the Ploughing have been the most fraught and the workrate has been immense by everyone involved,” said Michael. “There was an unexplained oil leak and talk of having to take the whole engine apart to find it. Thankfully, it righted itself after the tractor was taken out for a good, hard drive.”

The last big piece of work that was done to the tractor before it was transported to this year’s Ploughing site in Laois was to get a fantastic stainless steel exhaust fitted. This was expertly done by Pipe Fab in Clonaslee.

Although the tractor purists may not be happy, Michael feels that the fancy exhaust adds a bit of fun to the tractor and he feels that Charlie would like it.

The plough

The larger parts of the Kverneland Hydrein plough were sandblasted by EcoBlast Ireland in Kilcoole. When it was returned to the Keegan farm, all of the different bits were primed, which took a few days as there are so many parts. Then everything had to be painted once the primer was dry. 

The different pieces of the plough were painted either red or green, depending on where they belonged to. The next job was to assemble them – this was like fitting together a jigsaw. Michael’s neighbour Sean Hogan helped out here and it was a tough task getting all the pieces to fit and bolt them all in. A bit of muscle was needed!

There were constant references to old photographs and leaflets to make sure all the little details, like bolts facing the correct way, were accurate. And now Michael and his wife Hannah feel that the tractor looks great and that the red of the plough provides a beautiful contrast with the shiny green of the Deutz tractor.

Farming collectibles go under hammer

Ashgrove Auctions, based at Ballybrittas, Co Laois, is holding an interesting two-day auction of farming and rural collectibles, which were part of the estate of the late James Pratt from Shanahoe, Co Laois, on Tuesday 30 September and Wednesday 1 October, starting at 10am.

The sale takes place at the Ballybrittas showrooms and includes some 2,000 lots of collectible farming items from catalogues of model tractors and various types of containers. A full catalogue of the auction contents is available from 057-8626290 or query@ashgroveauctions.ie, while online bidding is available through the website www.ashgroveauctions.ie? on the day of the sale.

The contents of the auction include rural and farming tools and implements, Irish earthenware jars and flagons, vintage dairy equipment, collectable pharmacy, scientific, draftsman items and shop fittings. The Ashgrove team believes that it will contain the largest collection of advertising tins ever sold at auction in Ireland, along with cardboard advertising signs, brewerania signs, labels, bottles, trays and mats. There will be lots of motoring collectible items, as well as railway signs, models and other railway and steam memorabilia.

The late James Pratt also had a large collection of literature, books and trade catalogues, all of which will be going under the hammer.

Date Event Location Contact

27 September Doon Honda 50 Road Run Limerick 086-2643661

27 September Lisnavager Vintage Rally, Rasharkin Antrim 0044-7922-246089

27 September Sheepbridge Vintage Threshing Antrim 028/048-30265418

27 September Kilcronaghan Vintage Rally, Tobermore Tyrone 0044-7740-100048

28 September Doon Vintage Rally Limerick 087-2455156

28 September Meath Vintage Ploughing Day Meath 087-2204170

28 September Anglesboro Annual Harvest Fair Cork 086-2549014

28 September Ballyforan MF tractor gathering Roscommon 087-6776731

28 September Bargy Vintage Road Run Wexford 086-2550704

28 September Lios Dearg Vintage Day, Belmont Offaly 087-8108371

4 October Ballyfin Vintage Club Carbaret Night Laois 087-9172375

5 October KARE Vintage Tractor Run, Tinahely Wicklow 086-8416901

5 October Blennerville Threshing Festival Kerry 087-4126269

5 October Thurles & District Road Run Tipperary 086-2523442

5 October Mayo North Club AutoJumble Mayo 087-0553051

5 October Meath Vintage Group Seymourstown Threshing Meath 046-9243810

5 October Tuamgraney Vintage Road Run Clare 087-9588231

12 October IVETA National Vintage Rally Cavan 087-6329362