On the last Monday in June, Skibbereen-based contractor Adrian Levis left home with a baler and wrapper and drove the half hour to catch the Ro-Ro ferry at Baltimore. With help from Conor O Reilly, they went to Cape Clear Island make the country’s most southerly silage bales.

Adrian said: “I’m coming here the last 10 or 12 years at this time of year, regardless of weather. I know every house. We know the families, they’re like friends.”

Following a sea crossing of 40 minutes, they get to work. “You won’t fit a fusion baler here,” Adrian quipped.

“And there’s not many single balers left that will fit the roads here. Last year I made over 700 bales in 70 fields. There’s some very good land on the island but the fields are small.”

The tractors have their own support van preparing them for most eventualities. Describing its contents aptly, Adrian said: “You need a spare everything and hope things go according to plan. If you break down out here you are stopped for a half day at least.”

If weather is good it takes Adrian three days to get all the work done as they stay on the island. However, when it rains, it is a different story.

“The worst year I had out here, the tractors were here for two and a half weeks. So we just had to park up and head for the mainland and leave the gear behind until the weather came right.”

Cape Clear

Cape Clear Island is Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island, it is three miles long by one mile wide, and lies eight miles off the coast of west Cork.

Over four days, Adrian and Conor cut grass and bale over 70 fields. Taking advantage of the heatwave last week in Ireland, the mood was buoyant leaving Baltimore Pier, the gateway to Skerkin Island, Heir Island, and Fastnet Rock.