Cousins hit big time with video of life on the farm

Cousins hit big time with video of life on the farm

1 July 2015

A VIDEO of young boys cutting grass and lifting leaves may be the last one you would expect to go viral, but that is exactly what has happened to four local lads.

The clip of brothers Conal (13) and Lorcan (9) Murray, from Hollymount outside Downpatrick, and their cousins, Matthew (13) and Caolan (11) Connor, cutting grass in specially adapted ride-on lawnmowers and a purpose-built mini silage trailer, has been viewed a staggering 1.5 million times since it was posted on Facebook and YouTube just over one week ago.

The boys have literally become overnight internet sensations, turning grass cutting and fallen leaves collection into an art form which has captured the imagination of their peers and many grown up kids for that matter.

Conal and Lorcan’s father, Stephen, said getting the boys interested in cutting grass with specially adapted equipment started 18 months ago as a bit of fun.

Last Christmas, Santa delivered a hand-built mini trailer to the Murray home and after a test run on Christmas morning, things really took off.

Stephen said the mini silage trailer “is as near to the real McCoy as you can get.”

“The boys are cousins and while they enjoy each other’s company, things can get a little competitive. My two started out on their own and the two cousins soon joined in. The boys gave the first public demonstration of their skills and equipment in front of 80 people at the recent Hollymount vintage event.

“The emphasis is on having fun and enjoyment and the boys’ driving skills would put a few adults to shame. Matthew and Caolan’s dad, Liam, and I are a little bit jealous because we would have loved an opportunity to do something like this when we were children.”

Stephen believes children and a “good few dads who love big boys’ toys” are the people watching the video clip on the internet, revealing he has been contacted by people from across the globe about how he adapted the ride-on mower to funnel the grass cuttings into the trailer.

“People from Australia, Canada and the Far East have been in touch as have a number of locals. The interest in the video has really been phenomenal. Those who have contacted me are interested in the modifications we have made to the mowers and the specially built mini trailer. The boy’s driving skills is also being commented on as they are pretty sharp behind the wheel. When you see them in action you can’t help being impressed.”

The interest in the mini grass cutting operation stems from the cousins’ interest in watching farmers cutting silage. What the children do is literally a scaled down version, with some indicating they see the futures in farming.

Stephen explained the boys tried to replicate silage cutting on a smaller scale and that he fitted a pipe at the rear of the mower to see if it would funnel the grass into the trailer and was delighted when his design worked to perfection.

“If truth be told, Liam and I get as much fun out of this as the boys. We secretly wish we had this kind of opportunity when were their age. It’s great fun and we would have given our right arm for an opportunity like this.

“You can see the joy on their faces and while they are having fun, they take what they are doing extremely serious. Following their recent appearance at the vintage event in Hollymount, they have been invited to give a demonstration at the Larchfield estate vintage event.”

The final word goes to the boys who admit they are surprised having fun on lawnmowers has been such an internet hit. Matthew added: “We get a real buzz from this and it is really good fun. It is unreal and we enjoy it so much. Our summer will be pretty full on.”

Lorcan admitted he liked driving the trailer best and would not be lying in his bed over the summer, but would be up “having fun” with the mowers.” Caolan said his favourite equipment was the “harvester, “which to you and me, is the ride-on mower, while Conal, who is charge of the large mower, said he also gets a real kick out of what the quartet are doing.

The video can be viewed on YouTube by logging on at Murray and Connor Brothers Second Cut.