KILLARNEY PLOUGHS ON

COFFEY’S FARM IS THE VENUE AS KILLARNEY CLUB CONTINUES TO ROLL BACK THE YEARS

THE soil never stood a chance at Coffey’s farm in Fossa on Sunday afternoon as the Killarney Ploughing Association held its second points competition since 1963. The Killarney club was revived in 2017, and Sunday’s action saw 20 people put their skills to the test.

Horse-drawn ploughs are a rare sight these days, and they made a spectacular sight as furrows were worked with care against the backdrop of Lough Leane and Tomies Mountain. North Kerry’s Moss Trant is the only man in the county with a team of horses, and this tradition was welcomed by all on the day.

Sligo native Colman Colgan won’t be familiar to most Kerry people, but he has set himself a unique goal, the task of ploughing in all 32 counties. Sunday’s event means he now only has Cork left on his list.

“That was a nice addition to the day. Colman is hoping to plough in Cork in the spring,” said Killarney Ploughing Association Chairman Thomas Wharton.

Ploughing has a long history in the Killarney and south Kerry region. But tradition only is no guarantee of success.

The decision to revive ploughing has generated huge interest in the sport, and Thomas would like to see some form of financial assistance for young people starting off ploughing as the cost is certainly the biggest obstacle.

“This is definitely something that should be explored. Days like last Sunday are good for Kerry ploughing. The standard in the county has improved in the last few years. In 2017 we had two from the Killarney club competing in the National Ploughing Championships,” Thomas added.

There are six clubs in total in Kerry.

Ploughing enthusiasts from Abbeydorney, Ardfert, Ballybunion, Ballyheigue and Causeway also made their mark on the day.

Photos by Valerie O’Sullivan. Brothers Thomas (left) and Tony Wharton competing in the Killarney Ploughing Association points competition. INSET: Michael Leslie, Killarney.

Photos by Valerie O’Sullivan Ploughing his own furrow: Colman Colgan from Sligo set his own goal of ploughing a field in every county in Ireland. After Kerry, Coleman has only one more field to plough, in County Cork. The journey has taken him three years. He competed in the Killarney Ploughing Association points competition,on the grounds of Coffey’s Farm, Fossa, Killarney, on Sunday.

Donie Murhill, left, chatting with Danny O’Leary, Killarney Ploughing Association President

Thomas Wharton, Chairman, chatting with Dr Donal Coffey, on whose land the competition was held.

Tom Leslie from Faha.