The voluntary efforts of a St Anne’s Community College student who recently scooped a Garda award have been hailed as “magical” by the school chaplain.
Aaron Hunt (19) Ballina, won an Individual Award at the Clare Garda Youth Award ceremony, having raised €26,000 from three Patrick McKeogh Memorial Tractor Runs.
St Anne’s Community College Chaplain, Karol Torpey who nominated Mr Hunt with Sergeant Annette Ryan, Killaloe Garda Station, is delighted that he won an award as well as another student, Daniel Spaight.
“I couldn’t believe two students from the school have won awards. Aaron Hunt is just magic. He is a magical student, he was always willing to help out and do whatever needed to be done in school,” she said.
“Aaron is over six foot tall and anytime something had to be erected or taken down for Graduation Masses or an opening year ceremony, Aaron was always willing to help and get stuck in.”
Ms Torpey explained Mr Hunt has to spend a lot of time organising the Tractor Run as he has to deal with Clare and Limerick county Councils and gardai in Killaloe and North Tipperary before the event in the twin communities can get the go ahead.
In 2021, she recalled the inaugural event has hampered by Covid-19 restrictions, which resulted in the cancellation of the social gathering after the run.
The following year, she said, Mr Hunt and the organisers had to adapt around running the event during a period there were two local funerals.
“At a young age to be able to organise such a massive event, turn his grief and his friends’ grief into something positive is admirable. The school is thrilled and so proud of Daniel and Aaron,” she said.
“Aaron is the type of character who pulls everyone in. Everyone is mad about him. He would coax you into to help with the Tractor Run even if you had no interest in tractors or anything to do with tractors. He would get you on board, he is such a charmer.”
In June 2021, the twin community of Ballina and Killaloe were rocked when Patrick McKeogh (16) died following a tragic farm accident.
While they were in Transition Year, Aaron Hunt, Patrick McKeogh and friends has intended on organising a tractor run but they never got the opportunity to put their plans into fruition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
When Patrick McKeogh died after finishing his Transition Year in St Anne’s, Mr Hunt decided that he was going to organise a tractor run in his memory and the idea for this event took off from there.
Speaking to the Clare Champion, Mr Hunt admitted he was “shocked” to win the award.
The former St Anne’s student thoroughly enjoyed the Garda Awards ceremony with his parents, Siobhán and Michael Hunt, sister, Leah, and girlfriend, Charlene Powell, Templederry.
“It was a big surprise but it is a great achievement for a young person,” he said.
“I was delighted to win it. The ceremony was run very well.
“My parents were delighted and very proud. The award isn’t just for me, it is for everyone who gets involved in the run.”
Aaron believes this charity event provides some solace to the McKeogh family following the devastating loss of the young teenager.
“Patrick loved working with tractors and working on their dairy farm. His death caused a major shock at the time,” he said.
“We want to continue keeping Patrick’s memory alive while also raising funds for important and worthy charities in our area.
“The tractor run is a social event that allows people to get out for an enjoyable run. It also raises money for good causes.”
Mr Hunt doesn’t mind putting in the hard graft to organise the Tractor Run.
“I am happy to organise the run,” he outlined.
Participants come Killaloe, Ballina, Limerick, Nenagh, Toomevara, Borrisokane and Birr.
The Tractor Run goes through Ballina, crossing over the bridge into Killaloe, up Convent Hill on to Bridgetown, crossing over to O’Brien’s Bridge out to Daly’s Cross, Castleconnell before returning on the motorway to Ballina.
It takes about 90 minutes to complete in a tractor.
More than €5,000 was raised for Embrace Farm in the inaugural year, which attracted 150 participants, while €8,630 was raised in 2022 for Milford Hospice and the Irish Heart Foundation when 130 took part.
Last year, 140 tractors, vintage tractors, lorries, motorbikes and vintage cars participated, with all the proceeds allocated to the Irish Cancer Society.
The lights on Killaloe Bridge have to be turned out during the Tractor Run, Gardai man the approach roads with the help of up to 20 stewards
In 2021, organisers were told it was the biggest tractor run in the Mid-West that year.
Studying a Higher Cert in Eng in Agri Machanisation in Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry, Mr Hunt is on work placement with Abbey Machinery, Toomevara, who make and assemble slurry tanks, low emission spreading equipment and side feeders.
When he returns for second year, he will be studying in Pallaskenry three days a week and LIT one day a week.
Participants have the option of continuing go comlete the Level Seven for a third year, which he will be taking up.
This will ensure he is qualified as an agriculture mechanic, which he is looking forward to as he loves working with many different types of agricultural machines.
When his machinery course is fully completed, he will also receive a Green Certificate in Agriculture.
In addition to working on the family farm where there is a suckler beef entrerprise, Mr Hunt has worked for agricultural contractors and regularly milks cows for a neighbouring farmer.
He thanked his nominees Ms Torpey, Sergeant Annette Ryan and everyone who helps out with the Tractor Run for all their support and assistance.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.