Mid Louth: Rev up for Eoghan’s Home Run 23 in aid of deserving charities

After a super successful drive last year, ‘Eoghan’s Home Run’ tractor run returns this January with funds raised this year going to Williams Syndrome Ireland, Ardee Hospice and Drogheda Special Olympics.

The brainchild of Ardee native and Scoil Ui Mhuiri Dunleer pupil Eoghan McCabe, the inaugural run took place last year raising a massive €27,000 for Ardee Hospice and Williams Syndrome Ireland.

After such a successful event last year, Eoghan is looking to have more tractors and more people this year, all while supporting an extra charity, Drogheda Special Olympics.

Eoghan’s efforts have seen him awarded a Civic Award from Ardee Municipal District at their recent annual awards ceremony along with a Special Recognition Award at the Foróige Youth Entrepreneur Awards earlier this year and a Louth Garda Division Youth Award.

Eoghan will now go on to represent Ireland in September at the European YouthStart Awards in September 2023.

Speaking to the Democrat, Eoghan’s mother Linda explained how he first came up with the tractor run idea during lockdown in 2021:

“For TY he had to do a project, and he said during the Summer of that year that he’d like to do a tractor run so his granny and granda could go out and see it.”

“I thought that maybe we’d get a few to turn up and rock around the parish, but the response was amazing

“We pulled together a few family and friends to try to organise it and Eoghan said he wanted to do it for charity and we decided on Williams Syndrome Ireland because he has Williams Syndrome and we thought we’d throw in a local charity too which was Ardee Hospice.

“It was supposed to be a once off event but we were chatting a few months ago and he said he’d like to do one more, because the charities are going to do well out of it again.”

Linda says that there has been great support from gardai in Louth, including Sgt. John Heavey, and that the help of his organising group composed of Eoghan’s uncles and cousins has been invaluable.

“It wouldn’t happen only for the people in the area, and the extended area, it’s amazing,” Linda concluded.

On receiving his Foroige award, Eoghan explained why he chose Williams Syndrome Ireland as one of the charities to benefit from the event:

“I chose Williams Syndrome Ireland because I myself have Williams Syndrome.

“I wanted to show people that someone like me can do something as big as organise a Tractor Run and I also wanted to support other families who have a kid with Williams Syndrome.”

The tractor Run will take place on Monday 2nd January 2023 with tractors assembling at Richardstown, Dromin, A92 X090 with registration beginning at 11am and the rung starting at 1pm.

The entry fee is €30, which includes a steak burger, and all proceeds will be split equally between the three charities.

This year will also see prizes awarded to a ‘King of the Road’ and a Queen of the Road” for the best tractors.

Donations can be made via Eoghan’s GoFundMe page at: www.gofundme.com/f/eo

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For more information, email: [email protected]; Phone 086 858 8028 or visit the tractor run’s Facebook page @EOGHANSTRACTORRUN.