Threshings

John Murray, Derrylahan, had a threshing machine driven by a Mogul engine in the 1930's. In 1946 he purchased a reaper and binder and a new Allis Chalmer tractor. He went from farm to farm cutting the corn and later threshing. Threshing was a very important event when all the neighbours helped each other. It was also a celebration when half a barrel of beer was purchased.

He went to parts of Laois as well as Offaly cutting and threshing corn. In Offaly he went to his neighbour Jack Mahon Snr. who was a frequent visitor to his house to play his fiddle and make gates and baskets for him. When all the neighbours would arrive to help, everyone would have a different job to do. He would then proceed to Nevins and Mahons, Clonseer. He would call at John Butterfield Snr., Ballincanty, Mike Ryan's, Mike and Ellie Mahon and Pat (Chris) Mahon's. He called at Louis Power's, Killurin and then to Mick Gorman, Mount Pleasant.

Threshing at Rathrobin 1904

He threshed at his neighbour's, Jack Craven, Gortnamona, now Martin Galvin's. He went to Clonshanagh to Digans and on to his brother's, Peter Murray, Lowertown where he often spent three days threshing. He spent a couple of weeks in Clonaslee travelling from farm to farm, Bill Dunnes, John Casey, P. Casey, Hogans and many other small holdings.
The men were not the only busy ones, the women had to prepare the food, consisting of boiled bacon, cabbage and potatoes and in the afternoon, tea, homemade bread and jam. Supper was later in the evening followed by the threshing dance. After all the hard work everyone sang, danced and celebrated the saving of the harvest.