THE Donohue family from Kilbeacanty, Co Galway are an old school family; farming people on the edge of Lough Cutra lake.
The tragic circumstances around the death of Niall Donohue has been well documented since Niall took his life by suicide back in October 2013 and it plays heavily on the family still.
‘’It’s with me every day and I still can’t get my head around it, a young man in the prime of his life doing everything he ever dreamed of playing for Galway in All-Irelands in front of 80,000 people, loved and idolised by so many. The effect that it has had on my family is so hard to describe and only people that have been in that circumstance can understand it’,” Niall’s cousin Declan says.
Declan wanted to do something to remember Niall and to raise awareness of mental health issues, so he decided to organise a tractor run.
“Tractors are my business so I decided to organise a tractor run around Kilbeacanty, Gort and Beagh on Easter Sunday.
“It’s really just a day out for the community and for families to come out and enjoy themselves , I’m hoping that everyone around that has a tractor would come with us. ‘’
The proceeds of the tractor run will be going to Jigsaw Galway, a South Galway networking group who run workshops for Clubs and schools around mental health awareness.
Jigsaw have also set up an outreach programme in South Galway where a trained professional will meet anyone by appointment in Gort who would like to talk about issues they might be having.
This service is available since September 2017 and the numbers using it show that it was a badly needed facility.
“The most important thing is that people who might be struggling with their mental health know there are people they can talk to and that help is there for them, if only one family are spared the hardship and pain our family went through I would be happy,” says Declan.
Tractor Run will start at McCarthy’s Bar, Kilbeacanty, on Easter Sunday.
The entry fee is €20 per tractor, with registration from 12 noon.
They will also have the Tractor Dyno Challenge where you can go up against your neighbour to see who has the most horse power.
There will be a BBQ going all day in McCarthy’s with Music in the bar, there will be an Easter egg hunt for children in the pitch and later that evening there will be a short auction with four or five items in the bar.
There will be plenty of entertainment for everyone as well as some Celebrity guests so it promises to be a great day for all the family for a great cause.
Your support would be greatly appreciated. Contact Declan Donohue on 087 263 8642 for more information.
