If the fields could talk

We have received a number of entries so far for our “If the Fields Could Talk” competition. The following stories are a selection of some of the best.

The dance hall

Kate O’Malley (14)

Ballyburke, Co Galway

It now holds a pallet of calf crunch, some turf and some silage wrap. It’s hard to believe, but this old and derelict stone shed in our farmyard was once a very popular place to be. It was known as the Ballyburke dance hall.

In 1932, my great grandfather, John O’Malley, started holding dances in a shed beside his house. He continued holding dances there until the early 1950s. These dances were very popular and people walked and cycled up to 15 miles to attend.

My great aunt Ann remembers the preparations before a dance. The timber floor had to be waxed, oil put in the lamps, the globes cleaned and the seating arranged.

The dances were held on Sunday nights. They went from 9pm to 1am, but on special occasions, like St Stephen’ night, they went on until 3am. During lent there were no dances, so plays were held there instead. Ann remembers the cost of entry at one time being one shilling and three pence. My great grandmother made tea in the house (still standing and now a farm tool shed) for the band. Girls lined up in the house to use the mirror.

The musicians were local. The popular dances were waltzes, foxtrots, half sets and local sets. Everyone went out on the floor.

Our dairy cows now walk on the quiet roads and paths that young and excited people once walked or cycled on, to and from the dances, dressed in their best clothes. I can picture couples leaning against our stone walls and groups of girls giggling and whispering. The now silent roads were once filled with music, the sound of people dancing on a wooden floor and people laughing. My grandfather and Dad often meet people who say they heard about the Ballyburke dance hall from their parents and grandparents.

It’s a sad, old building now. We still call it “the dance hall”. If these walls could only talk.

The home farm

Sarah Armstrong (13)

Gartinardress, Co Cavan

Over 110 years ago, my great grandfather, Mr James Armstrong, moved to our current farm in Co Leitrim. At this stage, there was only a house where my great grandfather and his wife lived. In 1923, my grandfather, Robert, was born.

The house was later converted into a dairy in 1961 and a new house was built. It was in use up until 2008 when we were hit with TB. In 1913, they built a bull house, a hen house, a pigsty and stables. All of these sheds have since been converted. The bull house is now a workshop, the pigsty holds cattle nuts, and the stables are now the isolation pens.

All of the names for these sheds have stayed the same though, even though they are not used for that purpose now. In 1971, the cubicle shed was built. The cows were kept there before going for milking. In 1981, the main slatted shed was built and the cows were then moved from the cubicle shed. The cubicle shed was turned into a calf shed where the drop calves were reared. The weanling shed was built in 1989.

The railway connecting Arva, Crossdoney and Killesandra, which ran through our land, was opened in 1886 and was still in use up until 1959. Most of it is gone now, but remains of the huts, where the men who built it lived, still remain.

There is a fort on our land called Gartinardress fort. It is a ringfort. There are several forts around our area but ours was where the High King lived.

We own land on the top of Corr hill. This hill is 524ft above sea level and is one of the highest points in Cavan.

The tale of legendary hurler Tony Reddin

Conor Reddin (15)

Co Galway

Farming has changed a lot over the years and so too have farms. Our own family farm has changed in many ways, mainly in the way things are done compared to 50 or 60 years ago. Our farm has many stories to tell, but the one I am going to talk about is one we are very proud of.

Tony Reddin, three-time All-Ireland winner, five-time national hurling league winner and five-time railway cup winner, worked on the family farm for years before he became a renowned goalkeeper. Tony was also selected on the team of the millennium and team of the century. He also coached St Rynaghs to eight county championships. When Tony left the farm to look for work in Bord na Móna’s bog in Tipperary, he was badly missed at home on the farm because he was such a hard worker.

One job that Tony particularly excelled at was ploughing. Tony would bring out the two work horses and plough and set off for the day’s work. The most important piece of equipment you would think was needed was the plough, but no, the most important piece of equipment Tony needed was a hurl and slíothar. Tony would puck the ball up into the air and catch it on the way down, while somehow managing to control the horses at the same time.

At the end of the furrow, Tony would put the hurl and ball under his arm, turn the horses, and off he’d go again. He would be furious with himself if he dropped the ball even once. He was a proud farmer and was very fond of all the animals on the farm. Practising in the fields made him who he is today.