Sledge
This simple form of transport was very useful for moving heavy stones off the land, as the stone did not have to be lifted too high. It was also used for taking manure to the fields. Without sides, it was used for transporting turf across wet bogs. 

Block wheeled car
Block wheeled cars were a step up the evolutionary ladder from the slide car. Their wheels were made from three pieces of wood dowelled together and hooped with an iron tyre.  The tyre consisted of two parts and was nailed onto the wheel, although later they were sometimes sweated onto the w...

The Scotch Cart
The early 1800s saw the introduction of the Scotch cart into the north east of Ireland, around counties Antrim and Down (at the same time as the Scottish plough, improved horse harness and drill culture filtered into Ulster from Scotland). Until then, spoked wheels had been reserved for the carri...

Donkey Cart
The donkey cart was a small version of the Scotch cart. Donkeys were only introduced to Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars around 1800. Many horses in Ireland were bought up to be used in the war, and were replaced by donkeys brought in from Spain. Donkeys were to be found all over Ireland for th...

Hay Cart
The hay cart or ruck shifter came into Ireland in the late 1800s. The cart was reversed to the edge of a ruck of hay, and a pin holding the front of the platform to the shafts was pulled out, allowing the back to tip up.  Heavy ropes were pulled out and hooked behind the ruck and it was pull...

Pony Trap
This was also known as a tub cart or a governess's cart. Pony traps were introduced at the end of the 1890s and their quality varied, depending on skills of the builder. Entrance was from the back by a low step. Being totally enclosed, they provided a very safe means of transport. 

Jaunting Car
In Ulster this was commonly called a sidecar. It is one of very few typically Irish vehicles. Its form is similar to that of the wheeled car, with the wheels under the body. It was commonly used as the taxi of its day.  Bianconi used them as the basis of his transport network that served all...