Community College Tractor Run – A Roaring Success

Castleisland Community College Students on the Great 30th Anniversary Tractor Run. Included are: front: Aisling O Connell, Reece Nelligan and James McDonnell. Back from left: Dylan O’Connor, Saoirse Murphy, Kevin Lenihan, DJ Fealey, Greg Curran. Photograph: Elaine Murphy

Three in a Cab: Principal, Carmel Kelly with Deputy Principal Teresa Longergan and Navigator Mary O’Sullivan getting ready for the road on the Castleisland Community College Tractor Run. Photograph: Elaine Murphy

Teachers on the run: Teachers: Edwina Hayes, Elaine Murphy, Jacinta Buckley and Cáit Mc Ellistrem getting ready for the Castleisland Community College 30th anniversary celebratory tractor run. Photograph: Elaine Murphy

Months of hard work and planning came together recently for the long-awaited, Castleisland Community College Tractor Run.

No less than 31 vintage and modern tractors hit the road on Sunday, March 5^th in aid of farm safety education for students in the community college.

Young Social Innovators

The idea for the tractor run came from Transition Year students who are taking part in the Young Social Innovators project.

This project encourages students to address an issue that they are passionate about, create an innovative response and put it into action.

From their research, they chose the theme of Farm Safety and at the event they raised awareness about their project and distributed farm safety mind maps.

30th Year Celebration

The event was also held as part of the schools 30 year celebration at its current location.

After months of planning and plotting over €700 was raised, and everyone involved had a fantastic day along the way! The day started in Castleisland Community College where tractors old and new started arriving around 12pm and lined up for the run ahead.

In total, there were 31 vehicles on the run, a huge number for the schools’ first ever run.

Safety Car Lead
Teacher Donncha Hickie led out the run in the safety car. Con Horan’s Massey Ferguson 135, the oldest vehicle in the run, driven by his son, led the vintage contingent of the run following shortly after.

The route travelled was taken over by a convoy of flashing beacons and beeping horns, and there was many an onlooker who stopped to take in the fabulous sight! The run took just over two hours, and the tractors rolled back in around 3pm.

Finished Back at the School

The run finished back at the school, where delicious food of all varieties – that was kindly donated and made by students, staff and parents – was given out to all participants.

Prizes were then presented to the lucky few. The hamper was won by Catherine O’Connor, and ‘Best Decorated Tractor’ went to Diarmuid McCarthy and Conor Kerin for their innovative ‘minion’ design.

Thanks to All Involved
The organising committee would like to thank most sincerely all the farmers, tractor drivers and vintage enthusiasts who took part in the run.

They also wish to thank all the students, parents, past students, teachers and members of the community who supported us most generously.

This support is what made the Tractor Run such a fantastic success. Thanks go out to all who volunteered and worked so well together, and proved that many hands do indeed make light work. They’re all looking forward to next year’s Tractor Run already!

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