Successful tractor run for farm safety

Last Sunday's tractor run in support of farm safety charity Embrace Farm has been heralded as a resounding success.

Organised by a Transition Year team at Nenagh CBS, the event was staged to raise awareness around farm safety, as well as funds for the national farm accident support network. It was also the prelude to a night of farm safety talks involving several keynote speakers at the CBS on December 11th.

There was a great turnout last Sunday of around 140 tractors, ranging from vintage classics to brand-new machines. The tractors made a real spectacle as they proceeded from the school grounds on a route that took in Ballycommon, Kilcolman, Silvermines and Toomevara.

Back at the school, the TY team had prepared a safety display to highlight potential dangers on farms. This included a crashed quad bike, considering that the number of accidents involving quads increased this year, and a power take-off (PTO) shaft; Peter Gohery – one of the guest speakers at next month's event – lost his leg in a PTO shaft accident.

Farm Relief Services, AgriKids and of course Embrace Farm itself also contributed displays highlighting farm safety issues.

Speaking after the event, CBS teacher Michele Forde said all involved were bowled-over with the level of sponsorship that they received. She said the team would continue thanking the individual sponsors on their Facebook page. A big thanks is also due to everyone who donated timber for the auction, which raised almost €2,000.

Ms Forde added that Mr Gohery was “blown away” by the effort put into the event by the school and hoped that their project would be rolled out to other schools in the country.
IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan of Toomevara took time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. So too did North Tipperary IFA Chairperson Imelda Walsh. She encouraged people to attend the talks at the school on December 11th, which, Ms Forde pointed out, are for everyone and not just people from a farming background.

Thanks also to Garreth Gault/'Donkey' from Grassmen, who launched the tractor run and spoke to those present but unfortunately had to leave early owing to a bereavement.
Ms Forde hoped that the success of the event would encourage others to raise money for farm safety. As a school programme, she said it certainly instilled a new understanding among students of the work of charities, and indeed of the difference that young people can make.

Among those joining Mr Gohery at the CBS on Wednesday, December 11th will be local PR consultant Eugene Hogan, who lost his brother through a farm accident, as well as former Munster and Ireland rugby star John Hayes, who has a farm in Co Limerick. The event will begin at 7.30pm. Further details are on the Nenagh CBS Tractor Run Facebook page.