“I’m driving a 1975 New Holland Clayson 1540 model. This model was one of the best models ever made. It’s nearly trouble-free, but it’s getting old, like myself. We’re nearly both spun out,” said Jimmy Reilly, an 81-year-old farmer from Gainstown, Navan, Co Meath.

Jimmy is currently harvesting winter barley on his tillage and beef farm with his son Eoin, who has a newer combine, and says the crop is yielding reasonably well.

He also recalls the novelty of first combine coming to his area in the 1940s.

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“I enjoy it and I would love to be able to keep going and I hope the combine keeps going.”

“It’s not that we are making money, but there is more to life than money,” says Jimmy.