An Old Copy

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About making the hay, written by Peggy Guilfoyle on the 23/7/51

They were now starting to make the hay.The Guilfoyles had no mowing machine so my grandad lent them one.It only took one hour for them to cut one acre.Altogether they had four acres to cut.Peggy and her sister had to get up very early to spread the hay around the field.Their father was going to get them to toss the hay but then he told them to go off and play in the hay field until he had raked it with the horse and rake.Peggy and her sister were delighted that they had a while to play.

The next day they went down to the field again and had to fork it up into larger cocks. That evening they had to go down to the field again and open the cocks so that they would dry more quickly.Then Peggy and her father made them into larger cocks called trams and very soon they took them to the haggard.During that time Peg's mother used to bring them meals down to the field and they used to enjoy them.When Peggy and her sister were finshed eating they played around the trams in the hayfield while their father and my grandad were having a chat.One of the most pleasant sights was to see the men working in the field.

By Patricia Hynes