Alick MacNeill’s turn-out at a 1950s Agricultural Show
Photograph of Alick MacNeill, Donald MacLean and Donald MacIntyre at an Agricultural Show at Crossapol in the early 1950s.
Courtesy of Mr Donald MacIntyre
The Tiree Agricultural Show was started in the 1880s by Tom Barr, the tenant of Balephetrish farm, to encourage local crofters to improve their stock of breeding horses and their income. Around 1900, a stirk (one-year-old calf) would fetch £4 to £5 whereas a good year-old filly foal would fetch £25 to £30.
At the Shows in the 1950s prizes were given for the best horse in a number of classes: Clydesdale geldings and mares, Highland ponies, cross geldings, mares, fillies or colts and any breed of foal. There was also a special prize for the best horse, cart and harness.
Alick MacNeill of Main Road Farm in Balephuil, Donald MacLean of Vaul and Donald MacIntyre of Gott are pictured at a Show at Crossapol in the early 1950s. By this time tractors had replaced the horse and Alick’s turn-out was the only entrant in its class.
Black and white photograph of Alick MacNeill, Donald MacLean and Donald MacIntyre.
Agricultural show at Crossapol in 1951 or 52. L-R: Alick MacNeill, Main Road Farm, Balephuill; Donald MacLean, Vaul; Donald MacIntyre, Gott.