Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Beth Adger, has praised the organisers of the Ballymena Festival of Steam and Transport event that took place this weekend in the town.
The event hosted by The Traction Engine Club of Ulster has become a much-anticipated annual family day out, attracting steam and vintage enthusiasts from near and far to a field full of memories from years past.
All images of festival kindly shared by Paul McFarland (Picturskew Photography). Find Picturskew Photography on social media for more great photographs!
Visitors to this years festival at Ballee Playing Fields enjoyed a large range of steam engines and vintage vehicles, as well as being entertained by classic tractor pulling, lawnmower racing, a working arena of demonstrations, a craft tent, and fairground amusements.
Cllr Adger said the festival was full of things to do and see for the whole family and was a great way to round off the July holiday week.
“I relived the scenes of yesteryear as the mighty steam engines threshed corn, broke stones and powered mighty saws cutting through massive tree trunks,” shared the deputy mayor.
“It reminded me of my tender years growing up in Carnalbanagh, near Slemish - a beautiful countryside that remains with me to this day.”
Vintage tractors were on display covering all eras, right from the earliest built in the early 1900s to those from the more recent decades.
Cllr Adger continued:
“I thought of those days along with my brothers and sisters helping in our own small way on my Granda’s farm. Those days were some of the happiest of my life.
“I would like to thank Mr John Steele and the members of The Traction Club of Ulster for inviting me, and allowing me to reminisce of those happy childhood years in Augagash and Drumcrow surrounded by a loving caring family circle.
“Little did I think I would be in Ballee Playing Fields this weekend as Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, being reminded of my humble upbringing.”
Concluding the deputy mayor commented:
“Mid and East Antrim Borough Council are proud to be associated with this organisation that brought together young men with a diversity of interests. Not all aspired to own traction engines, nor indeed could they afford to do so.
“Instead they concentrated on scouring the country on the quest for old abandoned agricultural machinery, such as vintage tractors, stationary engines and ancillary implements which had disappeared from the farming scene.
“After months - sometimes years - of hard graft, these determined enthusiasts lovingly restored, to their original glory, those cherished artefacts of our agricultural heritage.
“We’ll done to one and all.”
All images of festival kindly shared by Paul McFarland (Picturskew Photography). Find Picturskew Photography on social media for more great photographs!