Henry Ford farm to host festival

THE ancestral home of Henry Ford will host the West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association's Ford 100 Fest in August.

The Fest will take place at Crohane, Ballinascarthy, on Sunday August 27 and will be sponsored by Henry Ford & Son Ltd.

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 established 100 years ago this year in 1917.

 The Ford 100 Fest will also feature live demonstrations of ploughing, silage cutting, corn cutting, threshing and exhibits of farming from days gone by.  Food stands on the day will offer up a selection of tasty dishes made from the best of local ingredients.  A helicopter will also be on hand to provide attendees with a bird's eye view of the event.

Don Coakley of the West Cork Vintage Ploughing and Threshing Association, said he was indebted to Vivian Buttimer and the Ford Buttimer family for hosting the event on the Ford family farm. ‘In this the centenary year of Ford in Ireland, we are also hugely grateful to the team at Henry Ford and Son Limited for their generous support of the event.'

 All proceeds from the Ford 100 Fest will be donated 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. See vintageploughing.com.