Honour for rural charity that raised over £1 million

A CIVIC reception has been held in Omagh for a local rural charity that raised over £1 million over several decades.

Veteran Fermanagh and Omagh District Councillor, Allan Rainey, hosted the celebration at the Grange for the members of the ‘Ballygawley and Roscavey Bygone Farming Days’ group.

Cllr Rainey’s late wife, Alberta, played an integral role in getting the fundraising group off the ground.

Over the course of three decades, the group raised a total of £1.25m for charity by holding a variety of events that championed the importance of vintage and modern farming.

He said, “The group was formed on the back of the Ballygawley Cancer Research Group, being rejuvenated by my late wife, Alberta or ‘Bertie’, to raise much-needed funds as a result of her illness in 1990. The first events were hosted on the farm of Mr and Mrs John McCrystal at Roscavey, Beragh, hence the name of the group becoming Ballygawley and Roscavey Bygone Farming Days.”

When the group was formed, a key focus of their activities was vintage farming methods, including ploughing with horses and vintage tractors and threshing.

Throughout the group’s existence, vintage cars and vans remained very popular.

Another popular feature of the group’s fundraisers was the baking of soda farls and pancakes, creating a ‘come and get me’ aroma.

Each afternoon finished with a ‘bring and buy’ auction, as well as an annual raffle, which together raised between £6,000 to £8,000 and, on some occasions, over £20,000.

The group was fortunate to have high quality ploughing skills on display, including two world champions, Don Wright, and his nephew David, competing in the vintage tractor, horse and junior classes.

There were also the three McKeown ladies demonstrating their skills in ploughing, with three 1940s Fordson Tractors, and using a cockshut plough, representing the ‘Land Ladies’ of the Second World War.

Throughout the years, there were six hosts for the events, including Mr McCrystal, Gareth Rainey, Patricia Kelly, Robert Clarke, William White and George Rainey.

Cllr Rainey said, “Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 and the natural wastage of members, the group has come to an end as the only fundraising still in existence was the Sunflower growing.

“On behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and on my own behalf, I would like to thank and commend the members of Ballygawley and Roscavey Bygone Farming Days, past and present, for your hard work and commitment to the group and to championing the importance of vintage and modern farming. I would also like to congratulate you on the outstanding fundraising efforts; these funds will have made a tangible difference to the lives of so many.”