ridging spade or Loy

[nemo]

i am looking for a ridging spade or Loy
it has a narrow curved blade about 100mm wide its ideal for removing the turf without the need of bending so with my back it would really help.i used my grandfathers when i was younger but i cant locate it.i have seen it called an Irish ridging spade an English friend of mine called it a Loy.i would really like to buy one so any help would be gratefully appreciated
thanks
nemo

[Two_Sheds]

Never heard of it before, had to Google:
The loy was a long bladed spade, difficult to work and heavy to use.
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The loy, or narrow-bladed spade, is still used in the more remote districts (of Ireland)
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That's all I came up with. No sellers, no pictures, nothing

[nemo]

hello too sheds
if you are interested click on this link below and go to page 3 then increase the size of the pictures then you will see what i am looking for .honesty the spade shown in the picture with a curved blade is a dream to work with maybe i might have the name wrong
regards nemo
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/public...g_Heritage.pdf

[lottie dolly]

thanks nemo,never seen one before,interesting pictures of yesteryears

[suibhne]

Did you ever find one nemo ? I'd love to find one myself, as I have a lot of potato beds to be digging and its the easiest thing for the job. I remember seeing a guy selling them in Boyle (Roscommon) Market one time and should have bought one then.

There was also a demonstration of how to use one at the Organic Centre in Leitrim last week, but I neglected to ask where to get your own. Perhaps I'll give them a call and find out.

As you say it really saves the back bending/breaking work.

[suibhne]

Oh, and if its just a curved spade you are after Im pretty sure you can buy them in the local hardware shops around here. Used for digging drains out aswell as the odd bit of turf.