Santa arriving at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run.
Photo: Alf Harvey.
There’s the Late Late Toy Show, the Elf on the Shelf, Christmas Markets and Carol Singing which are all staples of the seasonal extravaganza in the build up to the big day and the arrival of the man Himself.
To be added to that list of Yuletide traditions must be the Christmas Tractor Runs which have become a popular and integral part of pre-Christmas celebrations.
The illumined tractor runs are popular with all ages and none more so than the Fisherstown Tractor Fun Run which took place last Sunday.
Over 50 vehicles were involved from tractors to trucks and vintage cars – one which was bedecked with more than seven thousand bulbs.
Among the chief organisers, Paddy Flynn points out that Sunday’s event was solely for fun, and to “give a little something back to the local community” and all the families or the area.
The run went from Ballybrittas to Junction 14 and then back to the Final Furlong in the village where Santa was on hand for the festivities and with gifts for all the local boys and girls.
“It all went very well and was most enjoyable and we just wanted to thank the community and the people who so generously supported our main run during the summer.
“Our Christmas event is not a fundraiser at all, but a thank you for the families and the children,” explains Paddy.
The Chairman and Secretary of the Fisherstown Tractor Run Committee are David O’Connell and Ciara Noon, who were delighted with the success of Sunday’s free event.
During the summer the Fisherstown Tractor Run held their biggest ever and most successful event, featuring over 300 vehicles and raising a whopping €53,000 for the worthiest of causes, the Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise.
So that was certainly cause to celebrate this Christmas.
Check out some great Alf Harvey pictures below:
The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa with Eoghan Wilson at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Lisa Needham, Patricia O’Halloran and Beth Nulty at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Joe Burgess and Adrian O’Halloran at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa with David O’Connell at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa arriving at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa with Alan O’Halloran and Patricia O’Halloran at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Alan and Patricia O’Halloran at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa and Mrs Santa Claus with David O’Connell at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa and Mrs Santa Claus with Julia and Bonnie Dillon at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Caroline and Freya Carroll at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Corey Meredith, Emma Brennan, Andrea Stemmet, Alex Champ, Ben Champ and Hannah Stanley at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Jimmy Grufferty, Daniel Henderson and Roisín White at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Alex Champ and Andrea Stemmet at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Emma Brennan and Corey Meredith at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Stephen, Donnacha and George Maceoin at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Julia, Bonnie, Martha and Dickie Dillon with Gerry Maher at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.David, Lesley, Leah and Dáithí Duffy at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Gwen Noons and Philip and Liam Carroll at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Santa arriving at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.The Dobbyn, McKeon and O’Connor families at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.Committee members, Kathleen Flynn, Paddy Flynn, Ciara Flynn, Pete Noons, Dave O’Connell, Barry Wilson, Robert Smith, Jack Noons, Ciara Noons, Caron Murphy and Lorraine Wilson at The Final Furlong, Ballybrittas for the Fisherstown Community Christmas Tractor Fun Run. Photo: Alf Harvey.
