The All-Ireland Tractor Pulling Championships and Family Fun Day take place on Sunday, September 20 at Limerick Racecourse.
Kicking off at 10am, all proceeds from the event will be used in the development of a recently purchased site for a much needed community centre within Patrickswell.
There will be a wide range of events, trade stands and attractions to suit all ages, organisers said.
As well as the All-Ireland Tractor Pulling Championships there is also the Farm Class Tractor Pulling Championships.
The event’s annual Dog Show has a total of 15 classes ranging from Best Groomed Dog to The Dog with the Waggiest Tail.
There will also be a tug of war and a vintage tractor and car display.
The All Ireland Tractor Pulling Championships is recognised as the most powerful sport in the world and has a vast following within all five continents.
Organisers said this sport originated in the US during the start of the 20th century and the sport has advanced hugely since first started when they used a dead-weight-sled.
The sled was connected to the tractor with a chain and it was all or nothing: the tractor took off with the sled or it lost grip and dug itself into the track.
Later on, they came up with the idea to make the sled heavier as it travelled along the track.
Organisers said that this was achieved by having volunteers stand next to the track and step onto the sled as it went by to add weight as it progressed down the track.
The further the distance covered, the higher the position within the competition; so if a tractor made it to the end of the track this was called a “full pull” which qualified for the finals of that day.
Nowadays a tractor can pull the sled about 70-80m before it kills the tractor’s engine.
Gates will open on Sunday September 20 at 10am and admission is €10 per person, under 16’s free.
You can get two tickets for €15 through the event’s Facebook page where you can also get more information on the event.
