Vintage event to be a Mitchelstown first

It’s just over a week away to Mitchelstown’s first Tractor and Vintage Car Run, which is being organised as a fundraising event for Saint George’s Arts and Heritage Centre. The centre is working hard to continue restoration works on the former church and to clear loans of over €130,000 which had to be raised to undertake restoration works on

the building. To date, those works have cost almost €750,000, most of which has been raised through donations and various grants.

The vintage tractors and cars will gather at the old mart yard in George Street, Mitchelstown, on Sunday, 14th May, where drivers are asked to arrive at 10am for registration. The departure time for the run is 11am-ish, and cross through three counties. Vehicles will travel from Mitchelstown through Ballyporeen, Skeheenarinky, Kilbehenny and back to Mitchelstown again.

Members of the public can come to enjoy what the organisers hope will be largest gathering of vintage cars and tractors ever seen in the town, long famous for its agricultural produce.

Any old vehicle will be welcome to participate in the event. However, appendages to vehicles such as mowing machines or trailers will not be allowed to participate. The vintage tractor run will be headed Liam O’Donnell, one of the organising committee members, and the vintage cars will be led by JJ O’Mahony. All participating vehicles and their drivers must be insured. The entry fee is €20, and a variety of prizes can be won by participants.

Refreshments will be served in Saint George’s, and members of the public are invited to come a view the tractors. It’s also planned to have a surprise group of guests at the event, details of which will be announced next week.

The event organisers include Michael Leahy, Jack Dorgan, Liam O’Donnell, Gorm Priesler, Anne Morrisson, Andrew Dineen, Tom Hyland, Mervin Hodgins and Bill Power. Any of these can be contacted for information, or phone 087-8113611.

Thanks to Cork Marts and Hodgins Sausages for their support. If anyone would like to volunteer to help on the day please get in touch.

Liam O’Donnell’s Ford 4000 and JJ O’Mahony’s 1933 Austin 10, frame the front of Saint George’s Arts and Heritage Centre in Mitchelstown, which will be the beneficiary of the upcoming Tractor and Vintage Car Run on Sunday, 14th May. In the photograph are Bill Power, Liam O’Donnell, Eileen Hyland, Tom Hyland and JJ O’Mahony.