Ford 100 Fest on Ford Family Farm, Ballinascarthy

The West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association’s Ford 100 Fest will take place on the ancestral home-farm of Henry Ford at Crohane, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork on Sunday 28 August, writes Trish Whelan.

Billed as a great day out for all the family, the event will be sponsored by Henry Ford & Son Limited and will be a celebration of 100 years of Ford in Ireland.

The Ford 100 Fest will feature displays of Ford models going right back to the iconic Model T which was the car that helped Henry Ford bring motoring to the masses. In addition to all of the famous Ford cars from the past 100 years, the event will also see one of the largest displays of Fordson tractors ever assembled in Ireland. Fordson tractors were the first vehicles to be produced at the Cork Ford plant on the Marina which was set up 100 years ago this year, in 1917.

There will also be live demonstrations of ploughing, silage cutting, corn cutting, threshing and exhibits of farming from days gone by, and food stands with dishes made from local ingredients. A helicopter will provide attendees with a bird’s eye view of the event.

Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Henry Ford & Son Limited says “We are delighted to sponsor the West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association’s Ford 100 Fest - it is really shaping up to be a great day out and all in aid of some very worthy charities.”

Don Coakley, Chairman of the West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association says their Ford 100 Fest will be the highlight event of the summer in West Cork. “We are indebted to Vivian Buttimer and the Ford Buttimer family for hosting the event on the Ford Family Farm, and are also hugely grateful to the team at Henry Ford and Son for their generous support of the event.”

All proceeds will go to the West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association’s chosen charities: Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin; the Alzheimer’s Unit of Clonakilty Hospital; Cancer Connect; and West Cork Rapid Response. 

For more updates on the Ford 100 Fest, log on to http://vintageploughling.com/