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NINETY-four-year-old inventor Tony Bergin is still brain-storming and coming up with new ideas for the Tullamore Show's Inventions Section.
The retired dairy farmer was back at the show again this year with three practical home and leisure inventions.
Tony ws honoured earlier this year by the Offaly Association (Dublin) when the prestigious Unsung Hero of Offaly Award 2023 was conferred on him.
Tony's inspiring speech at the gala presentation dinner in Tullamore was later referenced to by Minister of State, Pippa Hackett in an address to Seanad Eireann.
The Offaly based Minister said she was struck by the words of retired dairy farmer, Tony, as he accepted the award.
She said “In his very powerful acceptance speech, Tony spoke with a mix of nostalgia, passion and sorrow, as he described memories of hunting and fishing, and walking through the fields and meadows, with bees and butterflies flying around him.
He recalls listening to the corncrake and hearing the lonesome call of the curlew. Sounds he hasn’t heard in many years.”
Tony has been coming to Tullamore for over 25 years and in that time has scooped numerous awards.
“It's amazing that since the first time I came to Tullamore the passion has never left me and I always look forward to coming back,” he said.
“The enjoyment it created for me was something else . . . if I get people relief that is my reward.”
Tony is from Cooleshall, just outside Roscrea in south Offaly and his farm is located where the three counties - Offaly, Tipperary and Laois – meet.
His entries this year included The Hitch picnic table and seat which was admired by the many visitors to the National Inventions Section.
Two other practical inventions entered by Tony included the pants pull-up and a bed linen lifter.
Tony was accompanied to the Show by his son-in-law, Andrius, whose said that Tony's passion for inventing was undiminished despite his age.
All of Tony's three entries were in the Inventions in Home, Leisure & Building class
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