The reapers, led by James McDara, were in a rye field at dawn. McDara had measured the field into three even parts and marked them with white lines. McDara was excited about a competition he had organized. The first couple to finish their strip would win a five-pound note.
The peasants thought McDara was crazy for spending so much money on cutting the field, but they were still excited. The three best reapers on the island were participating in the competition, with their wives helping them.
The reapers had cast lots to determine their strips and were now waiting for the signal to start. The reapers were dressed in grey woollen shirts, with a multi-coloured belt around their waist and white frieze drawers tucked into embroidered woollen stockings. They wore raw-hide shoes and none of them wore a cap.
The women wore red petticoats and had a shawl tied around their heads. One of the reapers, Michael Gill, was described as a long wiry man with fair hair and a hook nose. His wife, Susan, was plump and rosy-cheeked. She was thinking about their eight-month-old son whom she had left at home with her mother.
There is reaping race between three men and their wives. Johnny Bodkin, a large and strong man, takes an early lead in the race, cutting his sheaves quickly and untidily. His wife follows closely behind, tying the sheaves rapidly. Pat Considine and his wife are in second place, with Considine displaying surprising strength and agility.
He emits groaning sounds as he moves along his line of reaping. Michael Gill and his wife are the last to finish, with Gill reaping at a slow and methodical pace, never looking up to see where his opponents are. His wife ties the sheaves delicately and effortlessly.
The reaping competition on the island of Inverara has Bodkin, Considine, and Gill as the main competitors. Bodkin, initially in the lead, boasts about his progress but is challenged by Considine and Gill. Bodkin’s wife brings a hearty meal for them, while Considine’s wife feeds him as he works. Gill and his wife, unnoticed by the crowd, steadily progress without taking a break.
When Gill and his wife finally stop to eat, they are mocked by the spectators, but they remain unfazed. After a brief rest, they resume work at a faster pace, catching up to Bodkin. The competition intensifies as Gill and his wife show remarkable speed and efficiency, causing excitement and leading to betting among the onlookers.
Bodkin, visibly tired and making mistakes, faces a strong challenge from Gill, who works diligently and steadily. The race becomes a close and thrilling contest as Gill and his wife demonstrate determination and skill, putting Bodkin’s lead in jeopardy.
Considine collapsed from exhaustion and had to be revived with brandy. His wife took over the work, reaping furiously. Bodkin and Gill engaged in a fierce competition, with Bodkin gaining ground but eventually succumbing to weariness. Despite warnings, Bodkin drank excessively, becoming increasingly thirsty and losing focus. He reached a point of delirium, talking to himself and struggling to finish. In the end, Gill emerged victorious, leading to Bodkin’s collapse.
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