Revving up for Dublin to Mayo Tractor Run

BOYS IN BLUE Kiltimagh native Brendan Colgan (left) and Liam Flanagan from Balla (right) will be driving the 299km trip from Dublin to Mayo in their respective tractors to raise money for charity. Pic: Michael McLaughlin.

Michael Commins

THE second annual Dublin to Mayo Tractor Run takes place over the Easter Weekend on April 19 and 20. The inaugural event last year was a massive success and raised just over €96,424 for the chosen causes.
A total of 36 tractors will depart from Alexander Road on the Dublin Docks at 9am on Good Friday and proceed down the quays towards Heuston Station before leaving Dublin and heading for the west.
The beneficiaries of the Tractor Run this Easter are the National Rehab in Dun Laoghaire and the Castlebar and Mullingar Special Care Units.
Kilkelly man, John Corley, one of the organising committee, says they are once again delighted with the huge support coming their way. “Most of the drivers are from Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Sligo. We have a few from Antrim as well as from Meath and Longford and we have a young 17 year-old girl who will be flying the flag for Donegal.
“We are also very grateful to the Garda Siochana for their wonderful support and all who come on board as we progress down through the midlands.”
The drivers and the entourage will spend Good Friday night in the Longford Arms before setting off on Holy Saturday where they will cross the Shannon at Lanesboro and head for Roscommon town.
“This time, we will go from Roscommon to Creggs and Glenamaddy and Dunmore before making our way into Mayo and down to Kilkelly. We hope to get there between 5.30pm and 6pm so there should be a big welcome for us all along the N17.
“We will have a great welcome home in the Big Red Barn with music by Richie Remo from up north as well as The Kilkenny’s and ReJig, a very good band from Ballyhaunis.”
Sunday afternoon will see a gentleman from north Roscommon give a demonstration in The Square, Kilkelly, on building a Massey Ferguson 20.  This is also a family fun day with bouncing castles and other attractions.
A special Mass will be celebrated in Kilkelly this Tuesday evening at 7pm by Fr Vincent Sherlock, PP, in memory of Ger Greene from Dunmore (who died in a tragic accident in Co Sligo on April 16 last year) and Paddy Duffy from Donegal, who completed a tractor drive from Mizen to Malin last October and who died in November.