Vintage display as Skibbereen tractors visit Valentia Island
VALENTIA Island was visited by a number of vintage tractors recently, making for a very colourful spectacle as they drove through the island’s main road. They are of the Leap and District Vintage Tractor Club, situated near Skibbereen.
Diarmaid French is the main organiser and the group take part in various local charity events and also make a point of going on a long tour every May, purely for their own enjoyment, and they toured the six counties of Munster last year.
Their itinerary on this occasion involved eight tractors and 15 participants with drivers swapping after every 20 kilometres.
They transported their tractors by trailer to Kenmare and set out from there. They then travelled through Sneem, Waterville, Ballinskelligs, Portmagee and Valentia.
Having entered the island via the Valentia Bridge, they were met by local stewards under the guidance of Denis Murphy of ‘ The Wood’ Lower Ballyhearney.
Denis also drove his own tractor with a display of the tricolour and the Valentia colours. They were also greeted in Chapeltown by Seamus O’Donoghue in his David Brown and Dermot Walsh.
Having enjoyed a break for refreshments in the Ring Lyne Bar and Restaurant of Chapeltown, they proceeded along the main road to Knightstown and left the island via the Valentia Island Car Ferry.
They then made their way back to Kenmare via Bealach Oisin, Bealach Béime and Moll’s Gap. The tractors included David Browns (850, 880, 990, 995), a Massey Ferguson, Ford 4000 and a Fordson Major.
The Leap and District Vintage Club personnel are very appreciative of the help received while in Valentia.