Plough Thru the City in Kilkenny - all the details you need to know!

Tractors, trucks and vintage vehicles of all shapes and sizes are getting ready to hit the city for a major fundraiser this festive season!

Threecastles GAA club got into gear for the big event when they launched Plough Thru the City on The Parade at Kilkenny Castle.

[Above: Christina Mc Grath, Joe Delehanty, Gerry Bowe, Chairman of the MS branch and Miriam Gray, Community Worker MS Ireland / Picture: Vicky Comerford]

The annual tractor, truck and vintage vehicles run returns to the Marble City on Sunday, December 3 with the Kilkenny branch of MS Ireland as the charity partner.

At the launch were representatives from Threecastles GAA Club, including Tom Kelly (chairperson), Roisin Hennessy (secretary), Michael Eardly, Robbie Webster, Dick and Ryan Dalton and Ann and Tommy Murphy were in attendance.

The MS Society (Kilkenny) was represented by Gerry Bowe (chairperson), Josie Rinagl (assistant secretary), Miriam Gray (regional community worker), Joe Delehanty and Christina McGrath.

Garda Mark Nolan represented An Garda Siochana.

Now in its fifth year, the run is part of the Yulefest Kilkenny programme. The novelty of this run is that it is allowed go through Kilkenny City thanks to Kilkenny County Council and an Garda Siochana, who organise rolling street closures.

In keeping with the Christmas season, everyone entering a tractor, truck or vehicle is asked to decorate it with Christmas decorations and lights of all shapes and colours.

There is a competition for the entrant judged to be the brightest, best dressed, Christmas themed vehicle with significant cash prizes.

Vehicle registration will be held at Daltons Chancellors Mills, Freshford Road from 2pm. Entry fee is €20. 

There will also be an opportunity there to buy raffle tickets with great prizes provided by local businesses.

Another big attraction for those who enter is the opportunity to get the horse power of their tractor checked. The special price for the dyno testing on the day is €50. The service, which normally costs €130, will be provided at the reduced rate by Eardly Agricultural Services. All money raised will support the charity.

The cavalcade will leave Daltons at 4pm and head into Kilkenny via the Ballyragget Road, N77, and on to the Ring Road. All the entries will park up at the Castlecomer Road end of the Ring Road.

Once given the go ahead from the Gardaí to start, the cavalcade will proceed all the way in the Castlecomer Road, turning right at MacDonagh Junction roundabout, down John Street and over John’s Bridge, into Rose Inn Street before turning right at the Parade.

The convoy is expected in High Street at 5.30pm before travelling to its finish in Irishtown. A fantastic opportunity for owners to show off their vehicle, it’s an occasion not to be missed.

And for the public who want to really get into the Christmas spirit this event will surely light up your life. The tractors and trucks look amazing when they are lit up so make sure to get into town early to get a good viewing place. You won’t want to miss it!

This year’s Plough Thru the City will support the Kilkenny branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting chronic disease of the central nervous system which affects 9,000 people in Ireland.

It is an unpredictable disease that affects people differently. Some people with MS have mild symptoms while others may lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak or walk when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted.

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The MS Society (Kilkenny Branch) provide a range of services and activities to people with MS, their families, health professionals and others. There are between 200 and 250 people in Kilkenny with MS.

The local branch is a place where their members can meet for coffee with their peers to discuss openly about their worries and concerns with people who understand.

They also provide financial assistance, if needed, as well as providing information days where their members are advised on nutrition, exercise and other relevant information.

All funds raised from the bucket collection go directly towards funding these vital services for MS members throughout Kilkenny.

Threecastles GAA club hopes not only to raise money for this deserving charity, but also to raise awareness and support.

There will be official volunteers collecting all along the route so people are encouraged to support the collection in any way they can.

The organising committee are very grateful for the support from Daltons Chancellors Mills, Total Highway Management, Eardly Agricultural Services, Kilkenny Co Council and An Garda Siochana Kilkenny - without their help this event could not take place.

Check out Plough Thru the City on Facebook for further updates and queries.