A TRACTOR run through East Clare has been a huge success and raised more than €20,000 for two charities. 

The Light the Way tractor run was held just before Christmas to support Milford Hospice and Pieta House. The after-dark event attracted a total of 170 tractors and trucks who travelled from Gurteen GAA Grounds in Doora through Quin to Newmarket-on-Fergus and back.

The convoy was lit in an array of Christmas lights and decorations, much to the delight of the hundreds of spectators who lined the route. 

The event was organised by Tomás Meade from Quin, along with seven friends, all aged 19 and 20, and past pupils of St Flannan’s College, Ennis.

Now a student of Automotive Engineering at Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), Tomás and his friends had originally hoped to run the event in 2020.

“The idea came about in 2020 when we were in lockdown we were wondering what we could do with our time and we then thought of these two charities,” Tomás explained.

“They mean an awful lot to the members of the agri and haulage sector. We had the run planned for last year but it could not go ahead with because of Covid. We ran a photo competition in its place which earned €3,000 for these charities which was fairly good going for no event having taken place.

“This year we are teamed up with Lucky Day competitions in Northern Ireland. They have kindly donated a vintage McCormack international to us to raffle with all proceeds going to the charities.” Sponsorship was also provided by Spa Transport, with huge support provided by family and friends. 

The tractor run exceeded all expectations, raising a total of €20,460 which was split evenly and presented to each of the two charities. 

“We raffled the tractor it was won in Kilrush,” Tomás confirmed. “The event was a real community event we could not have done it without the help of my friends and family and neighbours.”