Memorial tractor run through Mayo and Galway takes place tomorrow

The Dunmore Vintage Club, in association with Michael and Ursula Greene and family, is organising the Gerard Greene 24 Hour Memorial Tractor Run starting on Friday, March 15, in Dunmore. The proceeds are in support of Dunmore National School.

This will be the fourth run undertaken in memory of Gerard Greene of Gortnagoyne, Garrafrauns, who died in a tragic tree-felling accident in Curry parish, Co Sligo, in April, 2018. His mother Ursula was formerly McGuinness from Logatemple, Claremorris.

The main event is a 24 hour tractor run through the night that will depart Dunmore on Friday evening at 6pm and proceed through Garrafrauns, Irishtown, Ballindine, Claremorris, Kiltimagh, Bohola, Foxford, Ballina, Killala, Belmullet, Mulranny, Westport, Louisburgh, Leenane, Cong and Kilmaine. It is expected that around 120 tractors will take part in this ‘extreme’ run.

A second ‘local’ short run will leave Dunmore at 4pm on Saturday afternoon for Milltown. From there they will head down the N17 for a half mile towards Ballindine before turning left at the N17 Stores and heading across to Foxhall and on to Kilconly GAA pitch where they plan to rendezvous at around 5pm with the big ‘24’ hour convoy that will have driven through the night along the Mayo coastline.

The two groups will then depart Kilconly for Tuam and then head back to Dunmore where they plan to arrive around 6pm on the eve of St Patrick’s Day.

There will be a big ‘welcome home’ party in Walsh’s Pub in Dunmore for those who have taken part in the venture with food, live music, a raffle and auction. All support for this worthy cause will be much appreciated by everyone associated with organising the tractor runs.