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Steam engines and sheepdogs thrill crowds at Shane's Castle

Ross McKee
BBC News NI
BBC A teenager boy with a grey baseball hat and black top and short, left, a grey haired woman with a blue jacket, pink top and jean shorts, a man with a green hoody, sunglasses and a backpack puts his arms around his two small children, a boy and a girl. BBC
Rosemary Stewart, second from the left, with her family, loved seeing the collies at work

The sights and sounds of yesteryear transformed the grounds of Shane's Castle in County Antrim as its May Day Steam Rally celebrated its 25th anniversary.

There were more than 800 exhibitors at the event on Sunday and Monday, with everything from vintage vehicles to birds of prey garnering attention.

Seven Showman's engines, which used to power travelling fairgrounds, provided a focal point for many visitors at the event.

But it was not only big beasts generating interest, as a sheepdog display featuring ducks proved popular with people of various generations.

Dogs and ducks

James Prenty, in black jacket, with yellow lining, glasses on head. Fairground in the background.
James Prenty, from Westport, carried out a sheepdog demonstration with ducks at the rally

"I do a demonstration with collie dogs, alongside ducks," James Prenty from Westport in County Mayo told BBC News NI on Monday.

"Ducks are easier to transport and get from A to B than sheep.

"They are proving popular with the crowds, there was a brilliant atmosphere and a great turn out on Sunday.

"I have a small pet farm as well and the children also love that."

'It takes me back'

Showman's engines, one with King of the Road sign, sitting in the grounds of Shane's Castle in County Antrim.
Seven Showman's engines were on display at the rally in the grounds of Shane's Castle in County Antrim

The sheepdog skills were appreciated by grandmother Rosemary Stewart from Moneymore in County Londonderry, who had brought her grandchildren to the rally.

"It takes me back to when I was younger seeing the sheepdogs, that is an art on its own," she added.

"I haven't been to this show for over 20 years, I thought I would bring the grandchildren down."

'It is nostalgic'

A showman's engine, with dark purple livery and yellow lettering, and red wheels.
Showman's engines used to power travelling fairgrounds

Alana McKee, from Annalong in County Down, was also attending the rally, along with her children Caleb and Jude and their grandfather Cecil Newell.

Alana said the event was a hit with the boys and stirred memories of her own childhood.

"They are both having a great time and really enjoyed the Punch and Judy show," she said.

An older gentleman with white hair and a grey tshirt stands in front of two small boys. One has a blue baseball hat and the other wears a white tshirt
Cecil Newell with grandchildren Caleb and Jude

"My Daddy and my Mummy would have brought me and my brother to the rally, when we were younger, it is nostalgic," she said.

"As children we would have gone religiously.

"I love that they have kept a lot of the old traditions, as opposed to children being in front of screens."

'Steam engines are exciting and noisy'

Ian Duff, in black cap, and yellow jacket, in front of vintage engine.
Ian Duff, director of the rally says people had travelled from across the island of Ireland and beyond

Ian Duff, who is director of the rally, said attendances this year had been "great", with people travelling from across the island of Ireland to attend.

"We have enthusiasts here from Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Dublin, Monaghan, we have got exhibitors across from Yorkshire in England and Fife in Scotland," he added.

"Generally we get somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people [attending] over the two days, and it looks like this year, we will probably top that.

"People like to see the steam engines, they are exciting, they are noisy when they are travelling about, that is probably one of the most popular exhibits and the rides are really popular with the whole family.

He said it was a "big coup" to have seven Showman's engines, which is "probably the largest number of Showman's engines ever put together in Ireland".

He said the "painted, polished" engines were originally used in show grounds for travelling fun fairs and are ornate, with twisted brass and lights.

"They were travelling fairgrounds in the 1920s and 1930s and the Showman's engine towed the fair from place to place and then generated the power for the fair when it was on site."

Kids beaming 'ear to ear'

Gordon McIlwaine, beside red land rover vehicle at Shane's Castle May Day rally.
Gordon McIlwaine says the children have particularly loved the Land Rovers

Revving up to the modern era, the Northern Ireland Land Rover Club gave visitors the chance to experience some off-road driving in the grounds of the castle.

Club president, Gordon McIlwaine, said the rally had been "absolutely brilliant".

"It has been so busy and this good weather has brought everybody out," he said.

He said it has been "non-stop".

"We had to close the barriers to allow the drivers to stop at midday for a cup of tea and a sandwich otherwise they would have kept on going all day.

"We were watching the kids climbing out of the vehicle when they get back to the finish and they were beaming from ear to ear."