This video tells story of potato farming in Ireland through the last century.
The video shows the traditional methods used to farm the potato crop, from using horses and then showing how the tractor changed production in the mid 20th century
We tell the story how the potato arrived in Ireland and explain how it became the stable crop for the country. We follow a farming year with the Butler brothers who farmed with heavy horses. They grow their crop for that year using the methods of the early 1900s. A Northern Irish vintage club also re-enact how the potato was harvested in the 1950s using vintage tractors. More modern methods of intensive potato growing are also shown and we film farmers who still grow potatoes on a huge scale for profit. As well as the farming aspect the house wife’s role is also followed, we show both potato bread and champ being made by a local cook.
This video is an informative piece for those looking to know more about the Irish potato harvest as well as those looking to re-kindle memories of their youth or of a previous generation. This video runs for one hour.
Produced by Thompson Video Productions Co. Derry Northern Ireland
