A labour of love for Gary Griffin brought this tractor back to life, with meticulous attention to detail and the help of many skilled hands, writes Peter O’Brien.

This year marks the centenary of the Barryroe Co-Op, with numerous events held throughout 2025 to mark this impressive milestone, including the launch of a book celebrating the special occasion last Thursday evening.

A pillar of the farming community in West Cork, Barryroe Co-Op has gone from strength to strength, the multi-purpose agri business employing 350 staff. On September 6th this year, the Co-Op held a highly successful open day for staff, suppliers, and the local community to celebrate the history and evolution of the company.

A collection of vintage and classic tractors were on display, with one tractor in particular having a special link with Barryroe Co.Op: a 1964 Massey Ferguson 65 MKII owned by the company’s grain store manager Gary Griffin.

The MF 65 was purchased new 60 years ago by the Co-op as part of a pair from the OK Garages in Dunmanway. Eventually falling into the hands of Teddy Griffin, the tractor was restored beautifully by Gary, who has brought the faithful bit of machinery out of retirement

As farming methods progressed in the 1960’s, a significant move from hay to silage was made as the main source winter fodder. Progressive and forward thinking, the Co-op purchased two tractors, complete with Tarrup single chop harvesters and silage trailers to provide a contracting service to farmers in the area.

The price was likely to be £800, as local contractor and machinery historian Dan Joe O’Driscoll recalls his father buying the same tractor around the same time.

The tractors worked together, bringing along a buckrake that the farmer would use to push up the silage. This branch of the Co-op worked for a number of years, however with the rise in private agricultural contractors in the late 1960’s, the decision was made to cease the contracting operations and auction off the tractors and machinery.

The front axle before work began on the restoration. (All photos: Gearoid Holland)

MANY HANDS

At auction, the tractor was sold to Timmy O’Brien, the father of the current chairman of the Co-op, John O’Brien. After a number of years, the tractor was sold to Cally McCarthy who in turn sold it to John Wolfe. Then in the early 1980’s John sold it to Teddy Griffin, Barryshall, who used the tractor mainly for feeding silage, loader work and spreading fertiliser. As Teddy’s son Colin progressed the machinery on the farm, the faithful Ferguson was retired in 2008.

However, soon after that Teddy’s son Gary Griffin was inspired to restore the tractor to its former glory. Having grown up with the tractor on the farm and spending countless hours at the wheel, Gary decided to undertake a comprehensive restoration project himself in his own garage in 2009. The tractor was completely stripped as Gary took to reconditioning, repairing and replacing the mechanics of the tractor before tackling the cosmetics.

Years of loader work had taken its toll on the front axle, which had to be completely re-bushed and re-pinned. Gary reconditioned the brakes and hydraulic pump as well as all the seals and bearings, front and rear axles, with parts sourced from Conor O’ Sullivan in Clonakilty. Conor also assisted in the removal and refitting of the injectors which were reconditioned, adjusting the tappets and pressure testing the engine.

Gary’s friend and fellow tractor enthusiast Mike Deasy was always readily available and assisted Gary with a particularly ‘cranky’ crank seal which wept continually; the tractor was split four times in order to rectify the issue.

Gary’s brother Colin was always on hand to help out, particularly with the top cover and fine tuning the draft and linkage controls. Tiernach McGuire skilfully TIG welded the aluminium timing cover to resolve a hairline crack in situ.

Finishing with the mechanics, the attention turned then to cosmetics with Pat O’Donovan of Timoleague, who is after getting particular praise for the attention to detail sandblasting the tractor.

Gary took on the arduous task of prepping and painting the tractor himself, priming and painting with 2 Pack paint. Even Gary’s youngest son Cal rowed in with the sandpaper! Gary describes the whole painting process as both ‘tedious and satisfying’ and there is no doubt that results speak for themselves.

Adding the finishing touches to the tractor and in keeping with its authenticity, a genuine enamel grill badge was proving elusive to track down. Busy with the harvest at the grain store and with the September event on the horizon, Gary had a stroke of luck locating one on Ebay in America. The finishing badge arrived in time, and the original Barryroe Co-Op Massey Ferguson 65 MKII was proudly on display for the centenary celebration on September 6th.

To replicate the scene from 60 years previously, a Taarup single chop harvester, similar to the one used by the Co-Op, was displayed on Gary’s tractor and was kindly on loan from Derry O’Donovan of Timoleague. A second Massey Ferguson 65 MKII pulled a KP silage trailer, the tractor owned by Barryroe employee Tim Sheehy. Mark O’ Donovan also displayed his David Brown with a buckrake, the trio of tractors representing a fitting nod to the history of Barryroe Co-Op.

Gary says he found the whole restoration process both enjoyable and interesting, and driving the tractor gives him great joy and satisfaction. The tractor is a true testament to his attention to detail. Gary extends his thanks to all his friends and family who assisted in any way during the restoration process, particularly his father Teddy, wife Emma, and children Tiernach, Sadhbh and Cal.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Manufactured in the Banner Lane assembly plant in Coventry, the FE-65 was launched in 1958, and sported the familiar red and grey livery and famous triple triangle logo on the nose grill as Massey Harris and Harry Ferguson firms were branded as one global entity.

The 65 MKII is fitted with a four-cylinder, 3.3 litre Perkins A4.203 engine producing 58hp, however this tractor is fitted with a direct injection version of the engine, the AD4.203, which is not common and makes it more responsive. The tractor is equipped with a 6F/2R gearbox, as well as a dual clutch. Twin lever draft control was also standard-governing both working depth and height of an implement, as well disk brakes.

With thanks to Gearoid Holland.