Killucan Tractor Run 2014

€ 14,332.10 raised for Temple Street Hospital with extraordinary Killucan Tractor Run Killucan was the focus for a major fundraising event Sunday 16th of March 2014 when 130 tractors set out on a spectacular fundraising event which crossed two counties. Tractors of all shapes and sizes began gathering at 9am and were parked adjacent to the railway for the official start. The official move off saw the convoy of tractors travel down the banks of the royal canal and then onto Moran’s, Hill of down before heading out the trim road back via Raharney to Killucan again. It was recorded that the Killucan tractor run was bigger than the Mullingar Parade.

“At first, when organising the tractor run, we were only expecting 50 to 60 tractors and we said if got that amount it would be great”. Aisling Dixon told ‘topic’ after the presentation of a cheque as a result of an extraordinary Killucan Tractor Run, co-ordinated in both Killucan and Delvin, which raised €14,332.10 for the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street Dublin.

The Dixon family in Killucan and the Flynn family in Delvin were the driving forces behind the organising of the major fundraising event, with both Ryan Dixon and Bronagh Flynn among the children from those areas who have benefitted from the state of the art facilities at Temple Street Hospital. The Killucan tractor run captured the imagination of communities across the midlands and indeed across Ireland, and while Aisling Dixon and the other organisers – who included John Dixon, Sheila Dixon, Pat Flynn and Katie Flynn – may have been expecting 50 or 60 tractors, brought along mainly by tractor enthusiasts and members of the farming community, the reality proved somewhat different.

Initial Target “We set a target at the start to raise €2,000 but we mad 7 times that- in total we raised €14,332.10 and we are delighted with that. We couldn’t believe all the support we got from everyone”, Aisling told the ‘topic’ after the cheque presentation at Temple Street Hospital. The Killucan tractor run took place on Sunday, 16th of march 2014, the Sunday of the St. Patrick’s weekend, and even though the organisers were initially expecting 50 or 60 tractors, some of 130 tractors of all shapes, sizes and ages arrived and set out from Cunningham’s and Killucan railways station.

Thanks to all “There were tractors arriving on the day from 9am, with people from Galway, Navan, Kildare, Bray and Dublin among those taking part”. On behalf of the organisers, Aisling expressed thanks to all those who helped in making the occasion the success, and she had a special word of thanks for the help and assistance given by Cunningham’s, Killucan and Moran’s, Hill of Down. The cheque for €14,332.10 for the intensive Care unit and St. Gaberials Ward was presented to the children’s University Hospital, Temple Street Dublin.