Vintage Potato Farming in Ireland Documentary

In this farming documentary film we capture how our ancestors grew potatoes here in Ireland for generations using horses and then the shift to the use of the tractor in the 1950s.
We show each of the stages in potato farming from the preparation of the ground, fertilising, planting ands then on to the harvesting. No crop is as associated with Ireland as the Potato and we look at its vital role as a food source. In this film we feature a local cook preparing two traditional Irish dishes with the humble potato.
This film, originally called "A Taste of Farming Life" was produced by John Thompson Video Production, Garvagh, Northern Ireland.
Please subscribe to our channel if you enjoyed this video bit.ly/2Qj95VI
Check out our Irish farming life playlist at bit.ly/2Swxloz

Пікірлер: 136

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife
    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife3 жыл бұрын

    Please subscribe to our channel if you enjoyed this video bit.ly/2Qj95VI Check out our Irish farming life playlist at bit.ly/2Swxloz

  • @andrewbell3926
    @andrewbell39263 жыл бұрын

    As a child I used to watch this video on VHS cassette with my grandmother. Thank you for a delightful memory.

  • @normafollet7156
    @normafollet7156 Жыл бұрын

    I find this video very interesting as some of my ansesters came from Ireland to Australia. So yoj are showing me the life style my ansesters would have lived. Thank you 😊👍

  • @gregwright2867
    @gregwright28672 жыл бұрын

    As a my family came to Canada in the 1830’s, we always keep our Irish heritage, close to our heart. We love our potatoes! I love your videos and someday I hope we can come to the place we left in Ireland so long ago. Love your videos !

  • @shaneprior
    @shaneprior3 жыл бұрын

    I grew up in Ireland, we picked potatoes, cut turf, won hay, and ate Champ, it was a great way to grow up, great video!

  • @rayunseitig6367

    @rayunseitig6367

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lucky guy.

  • @wisepranker

    @wisepranker

    3 ай бұрын

    Hi Shane, I grow up on a potato farm in England in the 60s and 70s and it was very similar, except we did not cut turf and ate Stunch, which was similar to Champ, but had swede in it. Some of the terms used here were different, but then again the machines and techniques had different names in other parts of England - I bet Ireland was the same.

  • @sheilam4964
    @sheilam49643 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks to this channel, all re-enactors, contributors and supporters who make these videos possible. Plz keep recording the ways of the past so they aren't lost.

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you

  • @zerofull6936
    @zerofull69363 жыл бұрын

    No fake news here and an authentic fine farmers wife!

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    No John, just good old Irish farming videos.... Thanks for dropping a comment.

  • @belomolnar2128
    @belomolnar21289 ай бұрын

    Plates made from Boiled potatoes (“placky”) and also from Fresh potatoes (“babky”). Both are Fantastic and taste wonderfull. Great video Thanks. 💥💥🍀🕊🕊🌹👍⛲️⛲️⛲️🇸🇰

  • @TheByard
    @TheByard3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video that has reminded me of my youth, back in the late 50s I would go and stay on my uncles farm outside Wrexham in North Wales it was a market garden growing all what you see in a green grocers. He worked the land with horses and was saddened on one trip there when he told me he's bought a Grey Ferguson. Once at the farm I was glad to see the horses in the orchard and now only used for carting. As kids we would pick the small potatoes, climb ladders fruit picking, watering the horses after work, feeding the pigs, gathering eggs etc. Sundays was a walk to church, then over the bridge to England for uncle to have a pint and auntie her gin, we sat on the pub steps and sipped a lemonade.

  • @danam.8709
    @danam.8709 Жыл бұрын

    My great uncle always said that his team of mules only needed him when they plowed, to keep the plow from tipping. Furrows always straight and perfect depth, remarkably intelligent and sensitive creatures. Plus moving slower these plow teams mostly just moved worms aside, didn't kill off a a prime source of fertility.

  • @jeffsuper1025
    @jeffsuper10253 жыл бұрын

    Greetings from Montana. Thank You for the wonderful video!!! I found it very satisfying and relaxing to watch. Interesting to see that Agriculture is about the same around the world. The champ and potato bread, how wonderful. Takes me back to my grandmother's kitchen 50 years ago.

  • @peteacher52
    @peteacher523 жыл бұрын

    A nostalgic look back at a lifestyle of hard work yet gentle, compared to today's hectic, confused and soulless rush.

  • @davidpettinger6350
    @davidpettinger63502 жыл бұрын

    Just found this by accident, loved it. We had a potato pinger planter and spinner (the single vertical wheel version) and they were both used until mid 70's I don't recall ever getting the 75p per day though 😄. Both were pulled behind an MF 35. Incidently, we also had a grey fergie which my grandad bought and was the first in our village.

  • @greggibler2215
    @greggibler22152 жыл бұрын

    I would someday very much love to visit Ireland. I love the part of the elderly lady cooking. It was good to have her in there.

  • @ShalomMichael
    @ShalomMichael3 жыл бұрын

    I just discovered this collection of videos. I really enjoyed the incorporation of the country cuisine and the perspective from the women of the farm.

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Michael

  • @loggerjohn01
    @loggerjohn013 жыл бұрын

    Great video, My ancestors from my Dad's side came from Ireland over to Canada, I live in eastern Ontario Canada and dream of someday going over to Ireland and walk where my ancestors did, what a beautiful country. My Dad would of loved these videos, Thanks so much for sharing

  • @leonstone4738
    @leonstone47382 жыл бұрын

    The filming of this video is in north west area of Ballymena. I well remembering riding my bike in the area rather than going to school. I stopped at a farm field to watch the workers at their toil. I asked the farmer if I could help (stupid me) I was quickly to the farmer that I was out of my depth. The farmer was very kind and let me try at my own speed. I was given a fantastic lunch and thanked for my help. So, I understand what the children in this video experienced. Ah the early fifties, it was indeed a great time., we just didn’t appreciate it.

  • @gunnarespevik5118
    @gunnarespevik51183 жыл бұрын

    Interesting to see the Farming life in Ireland. It is very similar to the life I had when I grew up. I grew up on a farm located to the West part of Norway in the 1950s. That was a mixed farm, We had sheep, cows and a horse. We grew potatoes and wedgetables. We had a big forest with pinewood and plenty of birch which we cut for firewood and sold it as well.

  • @patricianaegeli6433
    @patricianaegeli64332 жыл бұрын

    William OSullivan of Killarney has a fantastic collection of horse drawn antique farm machinery and other farming equipment and admirable skill using them.

  • @Bernie5172
    @Bernie51722 жыл бұрын

    I spent many many days spraying crops with one of those copper sprayers. 1960s

  • @markjarrett9400
    @markjarrett94003 жыл бұрын

    I had no interest in farming let alone farming methods of the past until one evening earlier in the year when I had nothing better to do than randomly surf through KZread looking for a clip on how to make potato bread (clip is included in this compilation). Ever since watching that clip and many others of yours, I always look forward to your farming videos. Thanks for posting and thank's to the person who had the foresight to do the filming (??1970's).

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Cheers Mark, Its was my Dad that started filming these events in the mid 1980s.. I hope you keep following our channel as we will be uploading more full length videos over the coming weeks... All the best, Chris

  • @kurtiswithakayy
    @kurtiswithakayy3 жыл бұрын

    I don't know why but these videos are so interesting and I'm not even Irish

  • @randybutler4772
    @randybutler47723 жыл бұрын

    With the name Butler, my Irish ancestry could have been potato producers. They fed their country and far beyond. Thank you for sharing.🇺🇸🇨🇮

  • @RRS8840
    @RRS88403 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy your channel all the way from Alabama, USA. Love the videos.

  • @katelutterodt2479
    @katelutterodt2479 Жыл бұрын

    THANKS,VERY EDUCATIVE

  • @mh73020
    @mh730203 жыл бұрын

    My mouth watering watching the The potato sorting

  • @NineballChris
    @NineballChris2 жыл бұрын

    The gentleman at 6:04 gets ‘Best Dressed at a potato farm’.

  • @scubaman6
    @scubaman63 жыл бұрын

    My Father's ancestors are from County Kerry down in the South of Ireland, my great, great, great grandfather was conscripted by the English to build forts during the Napoleonic Wars. He came here in 1800, I found your production to be very interesting and well done.

  • @juanitamontoya7306
    @juanitamontoya73062 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy videos like this one they are very interesting From a little town Northern New Mexico.

  • @flippert0
    @flippert03 жыл бұрын

    I absolutely love these vids about vintage farming. Now we have 8-forrow-or-more ploughs and huge machines that compact the soil and huge agribusinesses everywhere.

  • @thinking6307
    @thinking63072 жыл бұрын

    Thanks SO VERY MUCH for sharing these wonderful videos! After watching Rosemary cooking..I subscribed before the end.

  • @cherylbradbury4875
    @cherylbradbury48757 ай бұрын

    I still make and lovingly enjoy my mashed potatoes the way she makes them. Yumm🥰

  • @anthonymctigue9038
    @anthonymctigue90383 жыл бұрын

    I grew up with all this heaven on earth old ways gods way

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for commenting Anthony

  • @DomingoDeSantaClara
    @DomingoDeSantaClara3 жыл бұрын

    I remember that bell on the potato planter,I hated that bell,I think I was around 13 at time,always a school holiday job....it still beats picking up potatoes!

  • @KowboyUSA
    @KowboyUSA3 жыл бұрын

    Good potatoes. Great life.

  • @anoshya
    @anoshya2 жыл бұрын

    My wife used to pick and plant spuds in Carlow with her Grandad in the 1950s. He also carried ferrets in his pockets. Hard,life…very self sufficient with one horse…

  • @bobw9297
    @bobw92973 жыл бұрын

    Canada loves you

  • @cottagemommy5116
    @cottagemommy51163 жыл бұрын

    Fascinating. It's incredible what brilliant & creative minds can come up with. I especially enjoyed the potatoes recipes- love to see more of those.

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    So true!

  • @TheByard

    @TheByard

    3 жыл бұрын

    We eat a close relative to Champ, Bubble and Squeak served with cold roast meat and pickles. Mashed potatoes, cooked cabbage or other greens, chopped onion fried then mixed all together and fried in butter to a golden dark brown colour. Yummy

  • @lenny108

    @lenny108

    2 жыл бұрын

    30:35 yes, but wild boars come in the night and eat it all up?

  • @anthonymordawski-uf6ie
    @anthonymordawski-uf6ie6 ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed the video bought back many happy memories of my youth on my Great Aunt's farm in Ireland in the 60s and now have the receipy for potato bread yum yum my Azerbaijan friends will love it

  • @johncasey1020
    @johncasey10203 жыл бұрын

    Oh for chissake, I'm trying to diet and now I want some champ and potato bread. Thanks a lot. :)

  • @sonofeloah

    @sonofeloah

    3 жыл бұрын

    It is not the potato that puts on the weight but what you put on the potato you eat that can add the pounds. Adding a fried or poached egg to the champ in the morning will give you the energy for the day without the adding of pounds. Doing the bread with fish with a non-buttery fish sauce or maybe some chicken with gravy for the evening meal and you would do just fine.

  • @richardwilliams1334
    @richardwilliams13343 жыл бұрын

    In all my years working in the NZ bush we never ever heard let alone thought of making something so simple and tasty as your potato bread. I will be making one of these very soon, thank you for showing this simple recipe. As for the other?? ya that's pretty much a kiwi thing too but rather then using leeks I use shallots or just small onions cut up then added to the rewai mixture. I stumbled on to your show like many other as I myself am a keen small time gardener and it's nice to learn from others how they grow in their homelands. I have enjoyed your doco. I've never seen the potato harvester before but think its a great little way to dig up the whirly rewi.

  • @PanJasnovidec
    @PanJasnovidec3 жыл бұрын

    Many thanks for a very interesting video: the length is right (doesn't want to be much longer), the information is well researched and not TOO technical, the farming content is interspersed with the cooking , and the comparisons of how long the tasks took between the old and newer methods are fascinating. Very well put together and informative. Thanks again to all involved. May the wind be always at your back ...

  • @wazza33racer
    @wazza33racer3 жыл бұрын

    Ive ridden along a modern potato picker operating in the rich volcanic soils of the Atherton table lands of North Queensland, Australia. One machine could pick a 40,000kg load for my B-Double truck in about 2 days. Then I had just 48 hours to get the load to Sydney markets, 2400 km's away. In the plus 30C temps it was important to not delay, otherwise the potatoes sweat and go moldy making them a total loss.

  • @ronaldlucas5360
    @ronaldlucas536011 ай бұрын

    Enjoyed

  • @mh73020
    @mh730203 жыл бұрын

    I am f I am from Irish dissent I appreciate this video. My grandma last name is Lacy

  • @jfi368
    @jfi3688 ай бұрын

    Watching this in Edinburgh 😊

  • @DJBach
    @DJBach3 жыл бұрын

    Just watched a couple of your videos and subscribed. American Irish through Canada on my fathers side and I believe my ancestors were from northern Ireland. My daughter is now doing a lineage search, which is quite an undertaking because mothers side is from Germany.

  • @Lee-nh5bb
    @Lee-nh5bb7 ай бұрын

    Rosemary Kennedy looks to be an excellent cook. I'm going to try her potato bread recipe!

  • @amitghosh3711
    @amitghosh37112 жыл бұрын

    I am definitely going to try that recipe. Looks and sounds delicious😊👍👍

  • @astorrian6247
    @astorrian62473 жыл бұрын

    Great video and really interesting content. My grandmother from county Mayo used to make potato bread but if you tried to pinch a slice she would have your fingers off... Loved that woman :)

  • @AndrewCooper-eo7oh
    @AndrewCooper-eo7oh3 ай бұрын

    Love film would. Love more thanks.

  • @LuckyBaldwin777
    @LuckyBaldwin7773 жыл бұрын

    This was a fun video. Never seen how potatoes are grown and harvested before. Thanks from S Arizona.where cotton is king. P.S. Those were some beautiful draft horses.

  • @waltspears8179
    @waltspears81792 жыл бұрын

    Golden knowledge .thank GOD for the information age .unavailable to your average bear .thanx

  • @martinmcandrew2849
    @martinmcandrew2849 Жыл бұрын

    I done that work 60 years ago. Hard Timees.

  • @caddycommercials8570
    @caddycommercials8570 Жыл бұрын

    Willie Shannon legend

  • @aodhmac7
    @aodhmac73 жыл бұрын

    The commentary makes it interesting

  • @benji.B-side
    @benji.B-side3 жыл бұрын

    Love this, so interesting!!

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Benji

  • @robertbest4398
    @robertbest43982 жыл бұрын

    Back in the day remember it well back breaking good people though best chips in world fresh boiling of the park

  • @jameshiggins3508
    @jameshiggins3508 Жыл бұрын

    Class

  • @pnwRC.
    @pnwRC.3 жыл бұрын

    I've watched a few of the videos on your channel. After enjoying EVERY video I've watched, I had to subscribe to the channel! Great work, & we're anxious to see what the future holds for videos here!

  • @claymack1109
    @claymack110910 ай бұрын

    Fish and chips sounds pretty good actually

  • @daudiahomar8367
    @daudiahomar8367 Жыл бұрын

    🇮🇪 🇸🇴 nice

  • @ITLLBGRAND
    @ITLLBGRAND2 жыл бұрын

    There's nothing more Irish than spuds and butter

  • @sonofeloah
    @sonofeloah3 жыл бұрын

    Love both of the potato recipes and the first one for a morning breakfast would have some sunny side up eggs upon them and the potato bread would have either fried fish or baked fish with a fish sauce on them. I am sure that during the war that ocean fishing would have been confined to the shores with rod and reel or a hand net in the surf, but also a pond, lake, or creek fishing would have surely sufficed.

  • @lisawaters2585
    @lisawaters25853 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely fantastic content! Completely enjoyable on every level! ......have you ever thought of compiling a recipe cook book?

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Lisa, Great to hear from you.. Yeah, we had put some thought into it a while back.. I had also planned to film more traditional Irish cooking videos over the summer but Covid has knocked that into touch for the time being.. Chris

  • @BRI33NOR
    @BRI33NOR2 жыл бұрын

    Born and raised on a farm in Lincolnshire England. Recognised most of that as it progressed from horses to tractors etc. As a boy horses were often used as petrol was needed for the war effort . Big old things those horses and I remember one who after a food break woukd not move at all, until Dad persuaded him to move by some method best known to Dads.

  • @BRI33NOR
    @BRI33NOR3 жыл бұрын

    Takes me back a year or two. Horses as a growing lad. Fordsons and Fergusons later on. Done my hours at 'spud bashing school holidays'. Got a few shillings for new boots, trousers, winter jumper and once and air rifle !. Simple days, seemed happy , knew nothing else really. Worked a few hours sorting when the 'tatie pies' giant clamps were opened and riddled. Did have one of those old Lister petrol engines doing the turning bit though.

  • @matthewfunk4969
    @matthewfunk49693 жыл бұрын

    Neat to watch, especially in light of what modern production in Washington State is capable of. 40+ US tons per acre, and harvesters that can dig over 1000 US tons per day.

  • @michaelheery6303

    @michaelheery6303

    3 жыл бұрын

    Trump does

  • @sueupham2519
    @sueupham25193 жыл бұрын

    Thanks daddy. !

  • @pedrowalter
    @pedrowalter3 жыл бұрын

    Nice tuber from South America

  • @hiworldstephensonultranate290
    @hiworldstephensonultranate2902 жыл бұрын

    All of thisis Lost n Gone 2022 I reland Wasn't Passed onto my Generation Too Late Now

  • @johncourtneidge
    @johncourtneidge2 жыл бұрын

    Marvellous. Somewhat sad that the folks in Manchester have to eat the soggy ware.

  • @walterperry4565
    @walterperry45652 жыл бұрын

    Awsome veedio

  • @jamesmeaney6222
    @jamesmeaney62223 жыл бұрын

    Verry good

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you James..

  • @fintan2830
    @fintan28303 жыл бұрын

    Great to see how things were done the old ways. No need for gym workouts! 29:09 How NOT to run a PTO shaft (Spinning guard)

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the comment Fintan..

  • @happygardener28

    @happygardener28

    3 жыл бұрын

    True, but based on the clothing and the appearance of the machines that type of drive adaption was long before guards were common. Times changed for good, and bad.

  • @Verfolnir
    @Verfolnir3 жыл бұрын

    I gained half a stone just *watching* the making of champ!

  • @likklej8
    @likklej83 жыл бұрын

    I walked the Kerry Way from Killarney to Kenmare on the walk my way was blocked by one of those cart horses,she could smell mint sweets in my pockets and after I’d fed her she let me pass. The farmer who was close by said “she can smell your sweets” She let me pet her beautiful Irish cart horses..

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful, Intelligent animals... Thanks for the comment..

  • @hugolopezc5637
    @hugolopezc5637 Жыл бұрын

    Seamos felices.

  • @naashawginosh4570
    @naashawginosh45702 жыл бұрын

    Always nice to see independent farmers with the ability to earn a living, old school. Today's genetically modified, corporate owned produce is a sin with small independent farmers getting squeezed out, unable to work on the farmer equipment technology.

  • @conlaithtrimble7824
    @conlaithtrimble78243 жыл бұрын

    I show this to my grandad he loved it but

  • @bedebill
    @bedebill2 жыл бұрын

    11.55 Ivor Cummings , that is why you are so busy !

  • @cattleNhay
    @cattleNhay3 жыл бұрын

    I’ll make potatoes for dinner..just an idea I got randomly somewhere

  • @whitewolfeyy
    @whitewolfeyy3 жыл бұрын

    cant bet the spuds

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    For sure!

  • @seanmurtagh5753

    @seanmurtagh5753

    3 жыл бұрын

    Needs more salt

  • @lourias
    @lourias Жыл бұрын

    So, because Ford & Son changed to green, is that why John Deer Green is so significant?

  • @I_am_BiG_Al
    @I_am_BiG_Al3 жыл бұрын

    Loads of these "potato farmers" here in croydon 🥔 🚜

  • @johngaspar4425
    @johngaspar44253 жыл бұрын

    Those that relied on meat eating starved. Those that relied on the potato lived and were healthy. 11:02

  • @wdobni
    @wdobni8 ай бұрын

    we always had a problem with colorado potato beetles which were ravenous and seemed to appear out of thin air .... either they aren't present in Ireland or some remedy has been found

  • @herbertlittle2699
    @herbertlittle26992 жыл бұрын

    I love it , but I wish they could come up with a nother way to pick up potatoes.

  • @rapturebound197
    @rapturebound1973 жыл бұрын

    There is something to be said for the hard constant work involved to grow food in the fields and then cook it in the kitchen. People didn't have time and were far too tired to be up to no good in older times as they are in the 21st century. Genesis 2:15 ~ "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

  • @maineoutdoorsman677
    @maineoutdoorsman6772 жыл бұрын

    Man I bet she can cook ,make a man 500 pounds but happy as can be ,

  • @skeetorretard
    @skeetorretard Жыл бұрын

    ever wonder what was farmed before they brought potatoes to ireland?

  • @lenny108
    @lenny1082 жыл бұрын

    30:35 yes, but wild boars come in the night and eat it all up?

  • @paddybyrne7632
    @paddybyrne76323 жыл бұрын

    That’s a grand pot of spuds

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Tis indeed Paddy, thanks for dropping a comment..

  • @tallcedars2310
    @tallcedars23103 жыл бұрын

    interesting video although can't watch the whole film due to too many commercials....

  • @kingjames4886
    @kingjames4886 Жыл бұрын

    "producing the Mc.fordison"

  • @sigbjrnjohansen8872
    @sigbjrnjohansen88729 ай бұрын

    Har du poteter og ståltråd så er berget

  • @hiworldstephensonultranate290
    @hiworldstephensonultranate2902 жыл бұрын

    Great At Last Irish Videos on Utube i was n other countries so Long on utube Go Raibh Maith Agat Sl'an More Please Brian Cork

  • @alexthomas637
    @alexthomas6372 жыл бұрын

    🚜🚜😎😎👍

  • @johnnieguitar5724
    @johnnieguitar57243 жыл бұрын

    Too many commercials for me. Always interrupting the story! :(

  • @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    @VideosofIrishFarmingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for commenting Johnnie, we always welcome feedback from our subscribers

  • @EXARCWithGrandpop
    @EXARCWithGrandpop3 жыл бұрын

    Sorry, Too many ads for half an hour.