The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Easy-going tailbacks on a Sunday
IT’S not often you’ll find a tailback where no one is in a rush and everyone is in good form. That’s unless it’s Foilmore, where another Sunrise Commercial Run has come to a successful end. It’s a sight you don’t see often around these parts – a convoy of 83 cars, vans, buses and jeeps starting out at 6.45am and snaking its way from Foilmore to Dromid, Waterville, Comakista, Cahersiveen, and back to Foilmore again.
The event is organised by local man John Sheehan as a way of helping to raise funds for the South Kerry Mental Health Services – an excellent service serving some of the most remote parts of the county.
The inaugural event in 2018 was all about tractors, but this year it was decided to revamp the event by including a combination of other vehicles. The type of vehicle has changed, but the central message has not – to promote positive mental health.
The day raised over €10,000, a figure that is still climbing as the money is still coming in, John explains.
“I’m very happy with it and the commercial run seemed to work well this year. Trucks came from all over Kerry and from as far away as Cork. We’re delighted with the money raised which is still coming in,” he said.
“People are asking already about next year, so it went well. We have a great team organising it and I must pay special mention to my wife Mary, my family and friends as they have really got behind me with this. It’s definitely making a difference as people seem to be talking about mental health more. People have their own way of discussing it and this event gives people a chance to do so,” John said.
The large attendance stayed on afterwards for some well-earned refreshments in Foilmore Community Hall. John is full of praise for all the people who helped make the event possible, including O’Sullivan’s Bakery from Killorglin for donating bread, The Market House in Cahersiveen for supplying tea and coffee, while Larkin’s supplied delicious bracs. John also thanked Dan Timmy O’Sullivan for making his yard available. This event would not be able to take place if it didn’t have a facility to park so many vehicles.