Thousands gather for Tractors and Tudors Christmas Festival
Photo: Jess-Marie Healy
Carrick-on-Suir shone brightly as thousands of locals and visitors gathered to celebrate the inaugural 'Tractors and Tudors Christmas Festival', a unique event honouring both the town's rich Tudor heritage and its connection to Ireland’s original Christmas Tractor Run.
The festival centred around Ormond Castle and Kickham Street, which welcomed an unprecedented number of visitors to the Castle, offering a glimpse into festive traditions from the Tudor era.
The castle yard was transformed into a bustling Christmas Craft Market, featuring local artisans and businesses, and a number of talks took place, engaging locals in local history and heritage.
A highlight of the day was the unveiling of the Black Tom Sculpture, created by renowned local artist Philip Quinn.
Visitors had the rare opportunity to meet the artist and hear about the design process for the piece, which will be permanently installed in early 2025, enhancing the revitalised Castle Park.
Meanwhile, Kickham Street buzzed with energy as over 200 motorbikes from the Southeast Bikers Charity Run made a spectacular stop.
This thrilling addition to the festival drew large crowds who admired the bikes and supported the charity effort benefitting the UHW Paediatric Ward.
The Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre hosted the beginning of the Kids’ Christmas Tractor Run, where over 30 children, glowing on their lit up tractors, pedal-powered their way to Kickham Street’s street party.
The festival’s grand finale was the Christmas Tractors of Carrick, in a dazzling display of light and festive decorations, where thousands lined the local streets.
The day concluded with the official launch of the Explore Carrick-on-Suir Quest Map, a new interactive tool designed to guide locals and visitors through the towns' heritage, culture, and attractions.
Stuart John Downie, owner of Crop Cruisers and the visionary behind the original tractor run, said: "The Christmas Tractors of Carrick, now in its 11th year, are all about bringing joy to people and celebrating community spirit."
"The success of this event is a testament to teamwork," he said.
"It was organised efficiently, and it’s been a pleasure to be part of such a well-executed fun event showcasing Carrick-on-Suir," he added.
Sarah-Jane Cleary, Commercial and Tourism Manager of Carrick-on-Suir, added: "We are thrilled with the turnout for the festival.
"The Explore Carrick-on-Suir brand, launched just four months ago, is dedicated to showcasing the best of Carrick-on-Suir and its hinterland," she said, adding: "We’re committed to engaging the community in fun and meaningful ways and have exciting plans for even bigger events in 2025."
