Turf Hopper
This machine was used to cut turf in the 1980’s. It was designed by the late Gerry Lunt, and manufactured by his son Kevin.
It bears the initials JKF- the initials of Gerry’s children Joan, Kevin and Fiona. Barney Donlon (next door) purchased this machine for £2,000 and used it on local bogs for 10 years.
Between 6 and 12 machines were manufactured annually in a small workshop in Ballybride, Co. Roscommon.
Kevin Lunt recalls that these machines were bought by people from all over Ireland including Donegal, Kerry, Cork, and Clare. This is one of the few surviving machines of this type in Roscommon as very few machines were bought locally.
Most of his area is now a Special Area of Conservation and turf cutting has ceased.
An Initiative of Kilteevan Tidy Towns 2017
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