Retired Moate teacher shortlisted for innovation award at Ploughing

An 83-year-old retired teacher from Moate has been shortlisted for the Innovation Arena Awards 2021 at the National Ploughing Championships.

With his invention 'Farmer Jack's Safety Device', Kieran Gavin has reached the final of the event – which this year will be hosted on an online platform, despite the cancellation of the National Ploughing Championships itself.

Now in the eleventh year, Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards in association with the National Ploughing Association provide an opportunity for aspiring inventors to showcase their inventions.

With farm accidents have risen by 13% in the last five years and with farm machinery involved in 23% of accidents, Kieran Gavin from Moate found from his own experience of stake driving that the dangers involved in using a tractor were significant.

Many farmers have suffered hand injuries through holding the stake at the commencement of the drive, other have suffered injuries from being trapped behind the tractor. It is important for the driver and stake holder to work in harmony. This can be difficult given the size of the tractor and the height of the stake driver above the ground.

Kieran’s invention known as Farmer Jack`s Safety Device eliminates this danger by ensuring the stake holder is positioned away from the backing tractor and stake driver.

In addition to this safety protection the Farmer Jack`s Safety device ensures the accurate position of the stake as the holder has full control of the stake while it is being inserted into the ground. The distance between stakes can also be accurately maintained with the added measure feature that is part of the Farmer Jack`s Safety Device.

Kieran, a retired teacher and farmer, is no stranger to invention and is always occupied working on a project or two in garden shed. He is also an active member of Moates Men’s Shed creating the wonderful train displayed in front of the community Hall in Moate. He refers to his love of vintage machinery as almost an obsession and prior to Covid enjoyed traveling ,with his Moate vintage society friends, to various markets seeking out bargains to restore.

He published a book in Moate Memories some years ago that depicted life in Moate in 1946 from the eyes of an eight year old. Kieran said: “Getting to be shortlisted for the innovation arena awards 2021 and meeting the judges online has been a dream come true.”

The Innovation Arena Awards will be announced in September.