A number of events will take place in Strokestown, among them a tractor run, on Sunday March 30th to mark the 60th birthday of the late Michael Kelly of Borefield and raise funds for two local organisations.
On the day friends and neighbours will come together to mark the 60th birthday of ‘Mad Mick’ (Michael Kelly) with a day of events and celebrations commencing with a tractor run and ending the day with music, a raffle and auction.
Mad Mick (Michael) was born in 1965 to parents Eugene (twin) and Florrie Kelly of Borefield, Strokestown and was raised on a small farm with his four siblings.
Mick was never happier than when he was with a tractor, let that be working the fields with one or hours spent fixing and repairing faults.
From a young age Mick was fascinated with all things machinery, taking apart everything to see how it worked, and farming, two things which continued throughout his life.
Having worked at many different things over the years, Mick was never happier than when he was with a tractor, let that be working the fields with one or hours spent fixing and repairing faults.
The late Michael Kelly. On Sunday, March 30th friends and neighbours will come together to mark his 60th birthday with a day of events and celebrations.
That interest also included heavy machinery, diggers etc where Mick was known to be very talented.
He was a sociable person and greatly enjoyed a huge circle of friends of all ages and could happily spend hours holding court, teasing and telling stories.
He was a person who thoroughly enjoyed children and generally had a nickname on each of them, which in many cases has stuck, and he loved to see them playing and getting up to mischief, absolutely hating to see them glued to screens and phones.
He also had many other interests, including history.
He had a brilliant memory for dates of events etc. He also loved music particularly folk, rebel and Irish country.
He was a member of the Kiltrustan Heart Safe group where he regularly attended training and revalidation sessions until ill health prevented him taking part.
Mick's famous blue tractor.
He was always encouraging others to take part and attend the training.
It is fitting that the two organisations to benefit from the tractor run and other events are the Kiltrustan Heart Safe Group and Strokestown Children’s Playground.
Although his health had been declining over the past couple of years, he passed away suddenly on August 23rd last and no doubt he will be watching over all of the proceedings on March 30th.
He would have been very proud of his family and friends for organising this event, in his memory, as he would have been 60 on Saturday, March 29th and no doubt would have had a few celebrations.
The tractor run will leave Church Street Strokestown at 12.30 p.m. on Sunday with registration from 10.30 a.m. and will follow an a 18km drive, which will include passing by his home in Borefield and finishing back up in Strokestown.
Beirne’s Bar in Strokestown will be the venue for the afternoon events commencing at 4 p.m. with music by the `Rough and Ready Band`.
There will be a raffle with numerous prizes from hampers to vouchers, bottles and more.
The auction, with a vast number of items, will be handled by Roscommon and Strokestown auctioneer Tom Cox.
All tractors old, new, big, small are welcome. Registration is €20 and refreshments will be served prior to take off.
For more up to date information follow the social media accounts on Facebook (Mad Mick Memorial Tractor Run) and Instagram(madmick_memorialtractorrun) and also the iDonate page.
