Did they break the record for most Ferguson tractors in a field in Donegal at the weekend?

Carrigans was the centre of the tractor world at the weekend when hundreds of Massey Fergusons descended on the village in an attempt to break a number of world records, including one that they had set themselves.

It was a huge success, but the organisers have to wait and see if they broke the records they had hoped to smash as there's lots of paperwork to sift through before that can be confirmed.

Two years ago the Whitecross Vintage Association set a world record when 726 vintage Fergusons tilled the ground at the same time in Burt - this year they had much more ambitious targets; the most pre 1986 Fergusons working the soil at once; the biggest parade of Ferguson tractors and the most pre 1986 tractors forming the Massey Ferguson logo.

Derek Long told the Donegal Democrat/People’s Press, “We are not sure if we have cracked our previous records as yet but one record we have established is the great number of people who have attended the whole weekend event.

“There has just been an unbelievable response - we had people here from practically every county in Ireland and large contingents from England, Scotland and Wales.

“To actually confirm a world record there is a huge amount of paperwork to be completed and that could take anything up to three months to complete, but we are forever hopeful.”

Derek added, “It has been a tremendous boost to the local economy with every bed in the area taken up with visitors and the social events were packed to the rafters.

“We had Jimmy Buckley, Jim Devine and the Whistling Donkeys over the weekend with jiving competition and dancing - it was as good as any country and western weekend.

The highly successful weekend benefitted a number of very worthwhile charities including the Sean O’Hare unit in Stranorlar and the Foyle and Donegal Hospices.