Tractors lighting up streets – and lives!

By Anna Powell

Christmas Tractors Nenagh, the truly magical annual festive event in the town, has generated a major cash bonus to brighten the lives of local children with additional needs.

Last week, the Christmas Tractors Nenagh (CTN) crew gathered in the Peppermill, Nenagh, to acknowledge their achievement of raising over €23,350 from their superb parade through the streets of the town in December.

The funds were presented by the organisers to enhance the life of a young boy, Billy Goulding, who was paralysed after contracting a deadly virus at the age of two.

Also benefiting is the A-Team, North Tipperary’s Youth Club for local children with autism, who plan to use the cash to extend their facilities for children with autism and all youth in Nenagh and surrounding areas.

This fundraiser has been an immense help to the Goulding family over the past five years, Billy Goulding’s father, Victor, told The Guardian. “Christmas Tractors Nenagh is the biggest fundraiser we have now for Billy. We are now ten years since Billy got hit by the virus and it has brought serious challenges. We are forever grateful to everyone involved with Christmas Tractors Nenagh.”

Victor, thanking the organisers for the funding, explained how the money received will be put to good use to improve Billy’s quality of life. “We had to buy Billy machines at home that cost a bit of money to try and help him take his own breaths, make his own cough, build up his chest muscles. This is something that we could not afford to do and if it wasn’t for the Christmas Tractors Nenagh who have supported us for the last five years.”

Ailish Cleary, Chairperson of the A-Team, was also thrilled that the funding they received from the tractors event is going to be a huge boost to the services the volunteers provide. “We are currently in the process of sourcing our own premises as we need a bigger space to support the work that we do, and this is going to require money,” said Ailish.

“It’s amazing to see that the A-Team has the support of the community behind us as we work to build a bigger space for the youth of Tipperary. Although this new building will help support the 150 members of our club, it will also be a space for the non-autistic youth of our locality as we will be working in collaboration with Youth Work Ireland Tipperary.”

FARMERS SUPPORT

The sum of €23,350 wouldn’t have been raised without the support of all farmers who took part in the Christmas Tractors event. They selflessly give their time to light up their tractors and participate in the colourful event, now running every Christmas for the last six years.

For this special fundraiser the town of Nenagh comes to a standstill as people gather to marvel at the lights that adorn each tractor. Despite the extremely heavy rain in 2023, crowds of people turned up in support.

In a breathtaking show of Christmas cheer, a memorable night was created,with the event also featured Santa, the Grinch and an array of different Disney characters.

It’s the good nature in everyone involved that brings the parade to life. Among them is Oliver Kennedy, who at 80 years of age, tirelessly worked to contribute. He created a giant handmade gingerbread house. He also created a sleigh that brought Santa through the streets, a Christmas cracker float, and he also made a Polar Express train.

SUPERB VOLUNTEERS

While the rain failed to dampen the festivities on the day, it did manage to truly soak the clothes of the 60 volunteers who walked through the town to collect donations and seek contributions from local businesses in the weeks running up to the event.

Without the support of the farmers, the volunteers, and the wholehearted support of everyone in the locality, Christmas Tractors Nenagh would not be able to do its magic for our community.

While it’s easy to spot the 30 tractors travelling in convoy through Nenagh on the day of the parade, it’s harder to spot the tractors that visit the hospital in Nenagh and all of Nenagh’s nursing homes in the days prior to the event.

It’s even harder to spot the impact that the money raised by the event has on CTN’s chosen charities each year and how much that funding is appreciated and put to good use by the recipients.