Introduction to Scything at Síolta Chroí, Carrickmacross

What to Expect

Síolta Chroí, the agroecology education centre outside Carrickmacross, runs a new one-day introduction to the Austrian scythe on Sunday 13 September 2026, from 10am to 4pm. Chris Hayes leads it. The day starts with naming the parts of the scythe and fitting it, then moves through the history of the tool and on to the practical business of using one properly.

Most of the value is in the technique. A scythe cuts by edge and rhythm rather than force, so the session covers stance, the sweep of the mow and how to keep going without wrecking your back, along with blade maintenance, peening and honing, and how scything fits into managing grass, meadows and rough ground through the season. It is aimed at smallholders, gardeners, conservation volunteers and anyone who would rather cut a wildflower meadow or an awkward corner without a strimmer. Lunch is provided and dietary requirements can be accommodated if you ask when booking. Pricing runs on Síolta Chroí’s three-tier model: €90 subsidised, €120 standard and €150 contributive. All three buy exactly the same day, with the contributive rate helping fund the subsidised places, and the centre states that the subsidised rate is available with no questions asked.

Good to Know

• Date and time: Sunday 13 September 2026, 10am to 4pm
• Venue: Síolta Chroí, Áth an Chlocháin, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. The full Eircode is issued after booking
• Price: €90 subsidised, €120 standard, €150 contributive
• Facilitator: Chris Hayes
• Included: instruction, materials and lunch. Flag dietary requirements when booking
• Booking: through Eventbrite, places limited
• Wear boots and clothes you can work in, and expect to be outdoors for much of the day

Getting There

Síolta Chroí is at Áth an Chlocháin in the countryside outside Carrickmacross in south Monaghan, reached by car from the town on local roads. Carrickmacross itself is on the N2, about 90 minutes from Dublin and just over an hour from Belfast, with the M1 an alternative approach via Ardee. There is no public transport to the centre, so drive, or take a bus to Carrickmacross and arrange a lift or taxi for the last few miles. Parking is on site. Use the Eircode supplied with your booking confirmation rather than the townland name, as satnav can be unreliable on these roads.