Malin v Mizen charity tractor run passing through Mayo
TWO teams of vintage tractors are hitting the road for a Malin versus Mizen run, which will pass through Mayo en route to the finishing line across the Galway border in Dunmore.
Dunmore Vintage Club are travelling the length of Ireland for charity as part of the annual Dunmore festival.
The teams are gathering at their starting points today and will hit the road tomorrow (Saturday), passing through Charlestown, Kilkelly, Knock, Claremorris and Ballindine.
Dunmore Vintage Club's Cannonball: Malin v Mizen charity tractor run will travel through 11 counties on an epic race the length of Ireland.
Two teams of vintage pre ‘92 tractors are on the road, with one team starting from Malin Head in Donegal and the other team starting at Mizen Head in Cork. The teams will go head-to-head in a dramatic race to the finish line in The Square, Dunmore, where the festival will hold a finish line finale party.
The club are raising money for Autism Ireland. Donations can be made on gofund.me/81a165ba.
The two teams of tractors will hit the diff and pray that they get all the way to achieve their 330km journeys back to Dunmore. They won’t exactly be flat to the mat as each team must travel behind a 25kmph pace tractor, but the party hats will be on as everyone watches their progress throughout the day from the big screen in The Square.
Team Malin will travel through Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Mayo and on into Dunmore, while Team Mizen will travel from Cork, though Limerick, Clare and into Galway.
The clock will be counting down the minutes to see which team will cross the finish line first.
Keeping crowds entertained in Dunmore will be Rachel Mae Hannon who will take to the stage at 7 p.m., fresh from Independence Festival. She will be followed by the band Sum Craic who will be on stage at 8 p.m. with some knee slapping tunes to keep everyone partying into the night.
You can place your bets at the tote as to which team will be the first to see the checkered flag waved. All proceeds raised will go to Autism Ireland.
If you cannot make it to Dunmore please come out and support both teams as they pass through the towns and villages en route.
For all the updates on what is happening check out Dunmore Vintage Club’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/DunmoreVintage or Dunmore festival on https://www.facebook.com/DunmoreAnnualFestival.