Plans are in motion to break the Connacht record for the number of participants in a tractor run in Corofin, Co. Galway, this weekend.
The tractor run will take place as part of the Connacht Sheep Shearing Festival, which is set to take over the Co. Galway village over the coming days.
Organisers are calling for as many tractors as possible to gather at the GAA pitch in Corofin on Sunday, May 21.
The run is set to commence from 10:30am onwards and the tractors will have the privilege of driving on the new section of the M17 motorway, which joins Gort and Tuam.
Thanks to some canny negotiating, organisers convinced motorway bosses to allow the convoy travel on the newly constructed road, which has yet to be opened to the public.
All participating tractors must display a valid insurance disc on the day of the tractor run in order to be eligible to take part, according to the organisers.
Meanwhile, any tractors with oil leaks or diesel leaks will not be permitted on the motorway due to the new road surface.
All types of tractors are welcome to attend, including vintage tractors, and an entry fee of €10 will be charged; a number of spot prizes will be handed out on the day, as well as a prize for the ‘Best Turned Out Tractor’.
Speaking to Agriland earlier this year, one of the organisers, Barry Stephens, said the opportunity for a tractor run to drive along a section of the motorway will never happen again.
Tractor runs aren’t allowed on motorways. But we’ve got permission.
“The reason we got permission is because the motorway is going through my land. I built up a good relationship with the contractors and the guys. It’s the first and last tractor run ever on a motorway,” he said.
The tractor run will be just one of a number of activities to take place in Corofin this weekend. The festival will include a range of sheep shearing competitions, a machinery and dog show as well as a variety of family entertainment.
