A little Super Dexta will lead the convoy of a special tractor run this weekend in memory of Dan Friel of Kilmore Churchill.
The late Dan Friel was a hard-working man known for helping others with his trusty bright blue tractor from the 1980s. Despite undertaking a restoration project during the pandemic, he sadly passed last year before he could truly enjoy the vintage tractor scene.
This Sunday 2nd June, Dan’s wife, Dymphna, along with their four sons and their families, are organising a tractor run in Dan’s memory with all proceeds from the event will go to Donegal Cancer Flights & Services.
All are welcome to join this tribute to Dan’s spirit of community and his love for his unique Dexta.
Story shared with permission from the Donegal Tractor Run page:
Dan Friel was a man that was born and reared in days were life was tough and times really really difficult.
No one had work, no one had money and a very bleak future lay in store if the younger family members didn’t leave their land and home and ‘cross the waters’ as they say to work and send home what they could.
Dan at 15 followed that path, heading across the waters to find a job tunnelling in the 70s and came home full time in 1983 with a box-bodied transit which were extremely rare and sought after, so much so that Dan did a swap with the transit for a Super Dexta.
With this being one of the first tractors of its kind to come about the Gartan/Churchill area in those days the interest was huge.
Dan and the Dexta came in handy with the neighbours for helping out and Dan himself always stocked sheep and cows and helped cut turf alongside assisting the wider community as was done in those days.
The years went in and the Little Dexta got retired to the back corner of the shed, the prime place for many small tractors in the late 90s and 00s as bigger faster more comfortable machinery came into production.
Having wanted to restore the Dexta the mission was on during Covid times, and the most of the restoration was carried out with images below of the power washer in action as it was brought out from the corner of the shed at Kilmore in Churchill to begin works.
Sadly Dan never got to engage in the social side of things that comes with a vintage tractor run, having been diagnosed with cancer of the lung and throat and passed away in December last year.
Now Dan’s wife Dymphna, alongside their 4 boys Francie, Daniel, Brendan and Thomas with their partners and children will remember Dan and the great work he did in his day by organising a tractor run in his memory next weekend June 2nd with all monies raised going to Donegal Cancer Flights & Services.
A remarkable service that organises air travel to Dublin or Galway and other units for cancer treatment taking the pain and dreaded journey out of sitting for hours in the car.
Dan always wanted to do what he could for people and that’s been instilled in the boys by himself and Dymphna as they prepare to embark on the memorial run with the little Super Dexta.
Let’s wish them well with their event and great support for this worthy charity.
Best Wishes To All The Friel Family From Tractor Run
