A new home for local stalwart

Dubai-bound Killarney resident wins 1979 ford 2600 in Killarney Classic and Vintage Club draw

MARGIE Mannix got a nice surprise as she was preparing to head off to Dubai last week: she was the winner of a 1979 Ford 2600, the top prize in Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage’s charity raffle.

The draw took place in the Innisfallen Hotel in recent days, with Killarney Cathaoirleach Michael Gleeson present to announce Margie as the winner.

The tractor has a colourful history, most notably through being used by the Great Southern Hotel for some 30 years, and Con Lyne, who was so often at the wheel of the Ford, was also present on the night of the draw confirming a new home for his old four-wheeled friend.

Club PRO Tom Leslie told The Kerryman that they phoned Margie on the night of the draw. While she’s living in the Killarney, her husband’s work meant they were Dubai-bound that weekend. She was in Dublin that night preparing for her flight out, and she won’t be back to accept her prize for a little while yet.

The beneficiaries from the draw were the Killarney Micro Track and ACT for Meningitis, and Tom was delighted with how the night went.

“We don’t know just yet how much we’ve raised for the charities, but when we do, we will make a presentation to both of them, maybe before Christmas,” Tom said. “We’d also be hoping to have a photograph taken with Margie when she gets back from Dubai. She bought her ticket a good while ago, and I know her father’d be very interested in tractors!”

The event was streamed on Facebook Live, and the tractor was just one of a number of prizes raffled off on the night.

Anthony O’Connell from Abbeydorney won second prize, a two-night stay at the Killarney

Park Hotel, while the third prize, a €400 voucher for Killarney Oils, went to Thomas Jordan of Kilcolgan, County Galway. Fourth prize was a two-night pitch at Fossa Caravan Park, and this went the way of Leo McHugh from County Limerick.

The event was just one aspect of an exciting few weeks for the club, Tom explained. At the weekend, almost 30 members travelled to Lusk, County Dublin, to see Michael Hoey’s vintage tractor collection.

“I’d say it’s one of the biggest collections of vintage tractors in Britain and Ireland,” Tom said.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin John Coakley, Tom Leslie with (back from left) Jerry Griffin, Brid Stack, Tom Wharton, James Looney and John Coffey with the Ford tractor.