Ploughing through north Kildare

This recently featured classic Renault 155-54 (above) owned by Luke Douglas was dusted of and put to work in and around Luke’s home area in north Kildare. Having specially modified a front linkage for the big Renault, this was an opportunity to put it to work using a hydraulically adjustable snow plough (see photo above right). The Renault was producing its usual unique smoke signals as it went about clearing the roads of the local area.

Ready for lift-off

These two loaders were on duty in Dublin airport shovelling snow to keep the planes on the move. The two machines were driven by Eoin Brodigan from Tullyallen Agri Services in Drogheda, Co Louth, and Diarmaid Waldron from Ken Butler Agri in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Eoin was driving the JCB 435S and Diarmaid the Volvo L60G. The lads were flat out shifting the snow that was being ploughed by the famous fleet of New Hollands at the airport.

Fearsome Fendt

This Fendt 924 was the first vario transmission tractor to go to work in Ireland. This photo was taken by its owner on the first morning of the snow as he was heading out to go snow ploughing. The big Fendt strikes an imposing shadow on the snowy ground.

Blue cross

This New Holland T7200 was put to work at Tallaght hospital where it was driven by Robert Coyle of Rosnolvan Agri. Over the course of the bad weather he helped numerous ambulances and other emergency vehicles to go about their work as easily as possible. There are plenty of stories of incidents where without the help of the machinery operators and contractors of Ireland, emergency services would have struggled to do their jobs.

Ploughing ahead

Mark Morrison milks 500 cows in Waringstown, Co Down, in partnership with his uncle. He is seen here clearing the road in order to get local people in and out of the area and to get the milk lorry in to collect the precious and valuable cargo.