Meet Mikey Lynch. Two weeks ago, Mikey bought a new tractor for the 12th time. There’s nothing too exceptional about that, except for the fact that Mikey is 85 years old. Talk in his local town of Cootehill, Cavan has it that Mikey is the oldest man in Ireland to buy a brand new tractor.

In 1950, bought a Ferguson 20, 64 years later he rolled out of Martin’s Garage in Baileborough with a Massey Ferguson 6613.

“Ah, I’ve always loved Masseys. They’re a great tractor, I never had any problems with mine and I’ve gone back to them every time,” Mikey told me in his yard.

So what has changed about tractors in the 64 years?

“Well, they’re a right bit taller than they used to be but not much else. They’ve four wheels and a steering wheel. It’s about the man at the wheel,” Mikey explained.

A fitter man of his vintage, I haven’t met. Mikey, who farms with his brother Janey, was up and down the steps quicker than men or women a quarter of his age. Mikey still works as a ploughing contractor and boasted to the Dealer than he has in the region of 100 customers. “It’s all about keeping a good eye and knowing where you’re going. I like ploughing. There was a time when I’d be going working at midnight and it felt like it was only the morning and I’d work all night and all day. I can’t really do that anymore, though,” Mikey told me.

Ronnie Martin of Martin's Garage told me that Ronnie has been a lifelong customer.

"He bought tractors off my father (Freddie) for years. He's a fierce man a great man and a great customer. You'd find him ploughing at all times of the day and night for people, you'd heard the lads saying in town that he'd plough for the price of a pint," Ronnie said.

Not just a machinery man, Mikey also loves working with stock. Both him and Janey run a beef herd and finish more than 40 cattle a year. The yard is also spotless and one of the cleanest farm yards I have ever stepped foot in.

“I sent nine bullocks to (Liffey Meats) Ballyjamesduff last Friday and we’ll have another 30 or 40 to finish this year. We’re cutting back a bit on stock all the time, we can’t be doing it forever. We still like to buy a good few stock at the same time,” he added.

I think there might be another new tractor in Mikey yet.