Dublin to Mayo charity tractor run

A DEDICATED team of tractor enthusiasts are turning their passion into a fundraising venture in support of two special causes, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, and Castlebar Special Care Unit.

The group will undertake a two-day tractor run from the Phoenix Park in Dublin to Castlebar on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, March 30 and 31.

The official launch will take place this Saturday night, February 24, in McLoughlin's Pub in Charlestown, with music, spot prizes and a bit of craic.

A total of 18 tractors will commence the drive from Dublin at around 9 a.m. and will travel down the ‘old road' via Lucan, Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Enfield, Mother Hubbard’s, Clonard, Kinnegad, Miltownpass, Mullingar, Rathowen, Edgeworthstown and Longford. An overnight stay is planned for Feerick’s in Rathowen on Good Friday night.

The convoy will resume in Longford on Saturday morning and proceed through Lanesboro, Roscommon, Ballymoe, Castlerea, Ballinlough, Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, Knock, Kiltimagh and Bohola, before concluding the long haul in Castlebar.

A special celebration night to mark the completion of the venture will be held in Breaffy House Hotel afterwards, starting at around 8 p.m. A number of special guests are being lined up for the party.

The organisers are seeking sponsorship for their novel venture and this includes an overall major sponsor for the tractor run as well as potential individual sponsors for the 18 tractors and the booklet. Sponsorship cards are also being placed in many shops and outlets around Mayo and neighbouring areas and people are encouraged to lend support.

Sponsorship details and other information can be had from the following members of the steering committee: John Corley on (087) 7660344, Brendan Colgan on (087) 7630147, Tom Lavelle on (087) 4267070, Padraic Gallagher on (087) 3360020 and Adrian Maye on (086) 4053147.

A vintage tractor – you might have seen it on show outside Balla Mart last Saturday - will be raffled on the night of their return to Breaffy House Hotel.