There were some excellent tractor runs held over the Easter bank holiday in counties Laois and Cork.
The Portlaoise branch of Macra na Feirme held a very successful charity tractor run today, April 17, in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Meanwhile in Leap, Co. Cork, the annual Easter tractor run took place yesterday – on Easter Sunday, April 16.
Portlaoise tractor run
The Macra-organised tractor run was scheduled to begin at 12 noon at the Rock Inn, located on the Dublin Road, Portlaoise, just outside the town.
A total of 64 tractors were in attendance with a wide variety of makes, models, ages and types on show. Both vintage and modern tractors were present at the event, which was held in aid of the suicide prevention charity Pieta House.
The route for the run followed a path from the Rock Inn to Ratheniska Church, a few kilometres away, and back via Portlaoise. The tractors stopped for a minute’s observance passing by Ratheniska graveyard.
Refreshments were provided in the Rock Inn; plenty of enjoyment was had by all. As a ‘thank you’ gesture, commemorative tea mugs were presented to each of the tractor drivers who took part in the event.
The run was held in collaboration with the Rock Inn Vintage Club, which also assisted in stewarding the event. The Rock Inn Vintage Club will have its own tractor run on the May bank holiday weekend, on Sunday, April 30, in Portlaoise.
All the proceeds from the day will be presented to the Pieta House charity at the ‘Darkness Into Light’ suicide awareness walk, which is scheduled for May 6, in Mountmellick, Co. Laois. The walk is set to take place at the GAA Clubhouse, Mountmellick at 4.15am on the day.
Pieta House, initially set up in 2006 in Lucan, Dublin, has helped over 20,000 people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm.
As well as Lucan, which is the centre of operations, eight other centres have been set up: three in the Dublin area – Tallaght, Ballyfermot and Finglas; as well as five other centres to cater for the rest of the country – in Tipperary, Limerick, Galway, Cork and Kerry. For more information on Pieta House, view its site here.
Leap tractor run in Co. Cork
Below are pictures from yesterday’s Leap Easter tractor run in Co. Cork, courtesy of photographer Denis Boyle.
