Tractor Run supporting great causes will honour memory of beloved friend and father

Six brave men will begin a Vintage Tractor Run from Mizen Head to Malin Head later this month in memory of a dear friend who passed away and to raise much needed funds for three worthy causes.

John O’Malley of Carramore, Liscarney, Westport passed away at the early age of 51 on March 8 2005 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving a huge void in his family and local community and beyond where he worked as an agricultural contractor.

John had a real love of tractors and the first one he bought was a Massey Ferguson 135, followed by a fleet of David Browns and later many Case IHS. All were bought from his great friends Tom and Thomas Jennings of CFM in Castlebar.

With the 20th anniversary of John’s death approaching, his son Tomás and a group of friends have come together to organize the Tractor Run from the most southerly point of the island of Ireland at Mizen Head to the most northern point at Malin Head to honour John’s memory while helping out worthy causes at the same time.

The group includes Tomás, Phillip and David Hastings, Phillip Robb, Jamie Langan and Dominick McGreal. Ciaran Beirne of Beirne Express, Westport will transport the tractors to Mizen Head and then the hard work will begin for the six men.

The charities that will benefit include the Gena Heraty Haiti Fund, Mayo Roscommon Hospice and the Daisy Lodge, Cong, Cancer Fund for Children.

Every euro they raise will go directly to these causes as drivers and committee members are bearing their own costs for the events.

The group have said they are looking forward to the challenge, to raising money for these worthy causes and are now hoping that weather conditions are favourable as they undertake the 710 kilometre trek.

Donations can be made on the ‘MizentoMalinTractorRun’ page on iDonate.ie, by clicking this link.