Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir Parade still a big hit with public 10 years on

The streets of Carrick-on-Suir and several communities in its hinterland were lit up by a radiant cavalcade of glittering tractors stretching as far as the eye could see last Saturday night.

Forty-five tractors and two jeeps each carpeted with twinkling lights took part in the 10th annual Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir Parade.

The event was enjoyed by thousands of spectators who lined the route of the tractor run that started in the Piltown area and finished with a procession through Carrick-on-Suir town centre.

The Christmas Tractors of Carrick was the first parade of its kind in Ireland when it first trundled through the streets of the town in 2013.

The parade, organised by the Crop Cruisers tractor drivers, was inspired by the Coca Cola lorry covered in lights that featured in the brand’s famous Christmas advert.

Parade founder Stuart Downie from Tybroughney, Carrick-on-Suir thought he and his fellow Crop Cruisers could do better and so the parade was born.

Ten years on, Stuart is delighted the parade is still so popular with the public.

“It was brilliant. There was a large crowd out to watch us all the way around the route. People came from as far as Cork to see us. We had perfect weather conditions and thankfully the event went off without a hitch.”

The parade included tractors and drivers from counties Limerick, Cork, Wexford and Laois as well as a strong contingent of vehicles and drivers from rural communities surrounding Carrick-on-Suir.

After departing shortly after 5pm, the convoy passed through Piltown, Fiddown, crossed the River Suir at Fiddown Bridge and visited Portlaw, Clonea-Power and Rathgormack before heading to Carrick-on-Suir, entering the town via the steep Seskin Hill.

After passing through Carrickbeg, the fleet of tractors and jeeps crossed Dillon Bridge and onto Main Street where a large crowd awaited its arrival.

The parade continued through the West Gate and Sean Kelly Square and proceeded onto the N24, turned up New Street at Carrick Garda Barracks junction and finished at New Street Car Park.

The tractors parked up in the car park for a while to allow the public to see them up close in their sparkling coats of Christmas lights.

Before heading home, ten of the tractors crossed back over the River Suir and lined up outside the Sonas Nursing Home in Carrickbeg so residents could see the festive spectacle. Stuart confirmed the Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir will be returning next December.

While staging the parade takes a lot of hard work and organisation each year, he said the public reaction gives him a “great lift” and spurs him on to continue.

Pictured below: David Delaney and Seán Ryan, driver of the 6145R John Deere tractor in the photo, from Tipperary Town at the Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir. 

Check out more photos from the Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir Parade in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.