The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
TRACTORS AT THE READY AGAIN IN WEST KERRY
LAST year’s West Kerry Tractor Run was a huge success story, raising well in excess of €40,000 for good causes close to the hearts of its organisers – and the 147 participating tractors even earned coverage from US broadcasting giant ABC.
But it was clear at the time that its figureheads – Lios Póil men John Patrick O’Sullivan and Séamus Devane – had an eye to seeing the event flourish into the future.
It returns for its second running on December 1, and much of last year’s winning formula is unchanged.
It’ll have the same starting point – registration takes place from 11am at the old fish farm in Lios Póil for a 12pm start – and again, there’ ll be no registration cost. Instead, volunteers will be out with their buckets to give those present an opportunity to donate to three worthy causes.
Two of the beneficiaries will be familiar to the event: the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) and Gáirdín Mhuire Day Care Centre, who each received more than €20,000 last year, will this year receive 25 per cent of the funds apiece. Gáirdín Mhuire is close to Séamus Devane’s heart due to the care the Dingle-based centre provided his late wife, Noreen, while John Patrick, who received a lung transplant in 2016, is a firm supporter of the ILFA.
But a new charity will this year receive 50 per cent of the funding: West Kerry Mental Health Association.
John Patrick explained that he and his committee – for whom he once again reserved much praise, not least the members of the local Macra branch who’ve collaborated with them – agreed that the association was a worthy beneficiary.
“It’s a horrible problem, and it’s well worth supporting,” John Patrick told The Kerryman. “If we can manage, through highlighting the problem and raising some funds, to knock some chip off that horrible stigma that’s out there, we’ll be delighted. We won’t solve the problem overnight, but we want to do our bit.”
To take one example that highlights the importance of last year’s events, John Patrick explained that last year’s run raised important funds for Gáirdín Mhuire, ring-fenced for a new bus kitted out with the required accessibility features.
This year’s route is largely unchanged but will this year take a right at the Dingle hospital roundabout, take the new road and exit at Goat Street.
It’ll then head westwards, but on the return to Dingle, the Marina Inn, huge supporters of the event, will act as a hub. There, there will be live music by Super Céilí, and the bar will put up some Irish stew to warm up the participants. Local Men’s Shed members have also provided some items to auction off on the evening.
Last year’s events became something of a weekend festival, and that’ll be the case again this year: bucket collections take place around Dingle on November 29, and Dingle Mart hosts a huge day’s activities from 1pm on Saturday, November 30.
There, there’ll be a threshing display, for which the oats are at the ready, while Beaufort man Brendan Ferris will be present to take attendees through the development of the practice over the many years.
There’ll be plenty more to whet the appetite, too, with everything from wren traditions, súgán work, children’s activities, and even some falconry thrown into the mix.
To donate to the cause, one can visit the ‘West Kerry Tractor Run’ GoFundMe page, or contact John Patrick at (087) 280 9801