Killyleagh And District Mens Shed Restore Small 120-Year Old Irish Cart From Tullymurry Equestrian Centre
Killyleagh and District Mens Shed is growing from strength-to stength and recently completed an interesting project, the restoration of a wooden, farm cart believed to be about 120 years old.
The cart is owned by Marian Turley from the Tullymurry Equestrian Centre on the Ballydugan Road near Downpatrick and she said that it had been used as a feature beside her home dressed up with pot plants but had fallen badly into disrepair.
She said: “The cart was in quite a poor state. It came originally from Ballinlough Castle in County Meath where they ran equestrian events and they basically were having a clear-out at the time.
“I had got to know the staff there through being involved in equestrian events. I spotted the cart and took it home to Downpatrick.
“It has fallen into a poor state and needed some tender loving care. Someone suggested asking Killyleagh Men’s Shed to take a look at it and I’m just amazed at the great work that they have done in refurbishing it.
“The small cart was really the forerunner of the wheelbarrow and was used to pull bales of hay and animal feed around the yard. It was a working cart. These carts were quite common back in late Victorian Ireland so we have helped preserve a bit of our history.”
Marian added: “I am currently training actors in riding skills at the moment for the series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” and one of the production team, the prop master, said that he had a diagram of a similar old cart and it showed clearly the workings of the turntable system which was badly broken.
“He sent me some photos, and it all just seemed to come together after that. It was unbelievable coincidence that he had the exact information we needed to fix to complicated turntable.
“So I decided to get it fully repaired and Killyleagh Mens Shed have done an excellent job on it. I’m so delighted.”
The cart needed a significant overhaul. Spokes had to be replaced, the original iron wheel rim had to be cleaned and tidied up, the turntable system had to be re-done, some straps, woodworm treatment was applied, and parts were replaced, and overall it needed to be rubbed down and recoated with a nice stain.
Shed chairman Mark Turley focussed on repairing the spokes and wheels mainly and he was helped in the restoration project by a former Iranian farmer who had 50 hectares of land growing corn, lettuce, tomatoes and other crops, but had to leave his country because of the insecurities there.
Behrooz Nowrouzi had a lot of useful skills and applied them to repairing the cart. And when the work was complete he sanded the cart down and applied some ebony wood stain which brought the cart back to it aged rustic appearance.
Using his mobile phone translator, Behrooz said: “I am delighted to have helped restore the cart. I hope Marian gets many years enjoyment out of it.”
Shed volunteers Sean O’Brien and Pearse Murray were on hand at the unveiling of the cart. Sean said: “This has been a great project. The cart has been refurbished to a high standard. We are delighted at the result.”
And Pearse said: “This has been a win-win for everyone. Marian is delighted with the work we have done on the cart, and the mens’ shed have pulled together the skills needed to get the job done. It is now in good shape for another 100 years.”
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