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The Great Grass event on Saturday, which was sponsored by FBD, was billed as the biggest and best silage event in Europe, and it didn’t disappoint.
The vast array of machines managed to gather 100 acres of grass in just seven minutes.
More than 100 self-propelled forage harvesters combined to achieve the record-breaking feat.
They represented a wide range of makes and models including CLAAS, John Deere, New Holland, Krone and even one Heston and one Mercedes.
\Barry Cronin.
Joe O’Donoghue, chair of Combines 4 Charity, was amazed by the support and how well the event went.
"It is absolutely unbelievable the generosity of everyone who have made this possible. No one has ever managed to do what we have done here. They have come from everywhere like Cork and Donegal and at large expense," O’Donoghue said.
\Barry Cronin.
The event drew people from as far away as Germany and among the crowd was MEP Mairead McGuiness.
She was full of praise for the organisers and the farming community as a whole.
“With Brexit casting such a shadow over Irish agriculture, it’s been great to see a spectacular event like this. There are farmers here from the north, south, east and west of the island and they are at the heart of the rural community.”
\Barry Cronin.
The event took months of planning.
“Philip Brady had the dream and we’ve spent months putting it all together but it’s the drivers and the people coming in the gates that make it. It has meant we’ve been able to raise thousands for our great charities," O'Donoghue said.
\Barry Cronin
Difficult conditions
Conditions were challenging on the day, with a light swarth meaning drivers had to work extra hard to ensure the world record attempt went off without a hitch.
However, with the combined harvesting horsepower of 65,000 and €30m worth of equipment Combines 4 Charity achieved a truly magnificent feat for Irish agriculture.
\RM Agriphotos.
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