Straw bear turns heads in Galway

It’s a creation that would have been worthy of the recent Arts Festival in Galway city.

And it has captured the imagination of motorists in North Galway – many of whom are now travelling to see this unusual sight on the agricultural landscape.

Farmers and agricultural contractors Michael and Martin Fleming would probably win an award if there was one available for an ingenious method of selling round bales of straw.

With the help and imagination of Michael’s children they created a massive teddy bear in a field outside Mountbellew out of five round and eight square bales.

Earlier this week Michael and Martin, from Greenville, Mountbellew cut 15 acres of straw which yielded 140 round bales which they now intended selling.

Michael’s wife Jackie had seen something similar in a field up the midlands and with the help of the kids, they decided they would construct a teddy bear from the bales.

It was a joint family effort as Catherine and Emily were armed with black spray cans to paint the eyes ears and feet of the bear which stands around 20 feet high.

Michael’s other three children Lillian, Charlotte and James were intrigued by what was happening in the field at Newtown, Mountbellew.

“We just want to sell the bales”, admitted Michael Fleming. “But there is no doubt that it has attracted a considerable amount of attention locally”.

The whole effort, between painting the bales and stacking them to look like a bear took, around two hours but many have described it as a work of art.

Since the straw teddy bear was constructed on Monday, it has attracted huge attention and the Fleming brothers are hoping that it will result in the sale of the round bales.

“We hope that it will be a case of ready, teddy, go as far as our round bales are concerned,” Michael joked.

This is the third year that the Flemings have rented the 15 acres which is owned by Murray’s in Mountbellew but it’s the first time that their efforts have become a major visitor attraction.