A young Massey enthusiast from Inishowen is gearing up for her biggest challenge yet – a tractor run from London to Mayo.
Caitlín Mc Gonigle, aged 20, will embark on the 833km journey in April alongside 22 other vintage tractor owners.
The LYIT student will be driving a little 1961 Massey Ferguson 35x that she inherited from her grandad, Paddy Duffy, who passed away in 2018.
Paddy, a native of Greencastle, made the headlines in 2017 when he drove from Mizen to Malin Head at the age of 74. He left his beautifully restored Massey Ferguson to Caitlín, and she has been doing him proud ever since by taking on charity challenges in his memory.
Caitlin and her grandad Paddy Duffy
Caitlín Mc Gonigle
This time, Caitlín will be joining a group of adventurous Mayo men from Extreme Tractor Runs Kilkelly on one of their biggest events to date. The tractor run will start in London, 24th April 2022 and arrive in Cong, Co. Mayo Ireland on the 30th April 2022.
Being the only female in the event doesn’t deter Caitlín, because thanks to her grandfather, she has many years of experience behind the wheel of a tractor. Six days of driving will be no easy task, but Caitlín is hoping that her efforts will raise up to €5,000. Donations can be made to Caitlin directly or through her GoFundMe at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lonon2mayo-tractorrun-for-cancerfund-for-children
Caitlín’s Massey Ferguson ready for the road again
All funds raised will be going to Cancer Fund for Children’s Capital Appeal to build a new Daisy Lodge facility in Cong, Co. Mayo Ireland. This is a respite centre for children with cancer which needs full fundraising. At present there is only one such centre on the island in Newcastle Co. Down which sees some 500 families avail of this service annually. Cancer Fund for Children can only provide 1 in 7 Families from the Republic of Ireland with a short break which is why they have made the decision to build a Second Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo.
