Lawnmowers hog the road – all for a good cause

K-FEST kicked off the June Bank Holiday weekend on Friday in Killorglin with a jam-packed schedule supporting the arts, but the town definitely did its bit for supporting charity too.

In aid of Recovery Haven Cancer Support, the newly formed Kerry Lawnmower Club raised a significant amount with its inaugural ‘Lawnmower Run’ and family fun event on Friday evening in the town.

“It was our first ever lawnmower run and it was in aid of Recovery Haven Cancer Support Services in Kerry,” Recovery Haven PR/Marketing Officer Marisa Reidy explained.

“We really weren’t sure how many people would be interested but everyone wanted to do their bit and it was a great success; everyone had a great time.

“People came with their rideon lawnmowers and sponsorship cards. They met in Library Place to take part and they did two laps of the town.”

But the unique event wasn’t just for those in the driving seat. “Children decorated the lawnmowers, which was great to get them involved and they loved that,” Marisa continued.

“There was a DJ in the Library Place as well, it was a brilliant and lively evening. People were also able to donate without taking part as we had a stall at the event. There is no family that hasn’t been touched by cancer, so people wanted to help out.”

Marisa said it was Brendan Ferris of the Kerry Lawnmower Club who initially came to them with the idea for a lawnmower run.

“The whole idea was to do something different that involved the whole family. We really wanted it to be great fun, and it was. The feedback was brilliant. We couldn’t have done it without Brendan and all involved in the Kerry Lawnmower Club.”

Meanwhile, Brendan said he was “nicely surprised” by the response and the great reception.

“It was a brand-new idea and it could have fallen through but thankfully it didn’t. With the weather and it being a bank holiday, that helped the turnout. There were about 60 lawnmowers there. We preferred that people turned up and just paid the entry fee rather than throwing money at us and people did turn up which was great.”

Funds raised will be counted and presented in the coming days.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin ABOVE: Fionn Teahan; Jack and Megan Gillespie; Grace Teahan; Dean Brosnan and Hannah O’Connell in the wheelbarrow race in Killorglin on Friday.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Caroline Cronin, Marisa Reidy, Anne Foley, Brendan Tyther and Miranda Ahern at the Lawnmower and Wheelbarrow Race in aid of Recovery Haven in Killorglin on Friday.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Sandra Cronin and Davy Fleming participating in the Lawnmower Race in aid of Recovery Haven in Killorglin on Friday.

Brendan Ferris in his tractor mower participating in the Lawnmower Race in aid of Recovery Haven.

RIGHT: Sarah O’Connor and Donnacha Quigg in the Wheelbarrow race.

Eilis Lyne on her tractor mower participating in the Lawnmower Race in aid of Recovery Haven in Killorglin on Friday. Photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Kenneth O’Neill participating in the Lawnmower Race

BELOW: Claire Fealey and Nicole Moriarty