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 the town’s rich Tudor heritage and its connection to Ireland’s original Christmas Tractor Run, The Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir now in its 11th year, is a highlight and a beloved tradition in the town.

The festival centred around Ormond Castle and Kickham Street, which welcomed an unprecedented number of visitors to the Castle. The OPW staff provided free Tudor Christmas Tours, 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. Among the vendors was Danny Nugent, a student from The Journey of an Idea – Student Entrepreneurial Programme run by Explore Carrick-on-Suir. Danny, who specialises in Hurley repairs, delighted attendees by showcasing his skills, meeting the public, and promoting his growing business.

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.

Dr. Evan Bourke delivered a compelling talk on the MacMorris Project, a scholarly exploration of Ireland’s Tudor history. This engaging and fully booked presentation highlighted the importance of Ormond Castle and the Butler family’s legacy, underscoring their significant role in culture and the arts in early modern Ireland.

“Echoes from the Great Hall“, held in the Long Gallery of Ormond Castle, was a special performance celebrating literature, song, and music. MC’d by Watty Dunphy,  the event featured captivating performances by Heather Comerford, Killian Browne, and Kevin Power, Dr. Emma O’Keeffe and Barry Comeford and Dr. Evan Bourke. The magnificent Tudor backdrop added an extra layer of charm to the evening’s proceedings.

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, thirty plus kids glowing on their lit up tractors pedal powered their way to Kickham Street’s Beat 102 103 presenter-led street party, where the excitement was palpable.

The festival’s grand finale was the Christmas Tractors of Carrick returned from the Hinterland run, in a dazzling display of light and festive decorations. Thousands lined the streets cheering and marvelled at the festive spirit of each illuminated tractor.

The day concluded with the official launch of the Explore Carrick-on-Suir Quest Map at the Beat 102 103 party, officiated by Stuart John Downie, representative of the Christmas Tractors of Carrick-on-Suir and Cathaoirleach Mark Fitzgerald. The Quest Map is an interactive tool designed to guide locals and visitors through the town and 3 County Hinterland’s rich heritage, culture, and attractions.

Stuart John Downie, owner of Crop Cruisers and the visionary behind the original tractor run, shared his enthusiasm:

“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. It was organised efficiently, and it’s been a pleasure to be part of such a well-executed fun event showcasing Carrick-on-Suir.“

Sarah-Jane Cleary, Commercial and Tourism Manager of Carrick-on-Suir said: “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. In that short time, we’ve delivered two major festivals, a Student Entrepreneurial Programme, and the Explore Carrick-on-Suir Quest Map. We’re committed to engaging the community in fun and meaningful ways and have exciting plans for even bigger events in 2025.“

Marie Cox, District Administrator of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, paid tribute to all of those involved in the festival, commending the willingness of all groups, businesses and organisations to work together to host this amazing festival showcasing all Carrick-on-Suir has to offer. “The feedback has been so positive about the festival and it shows how much Carrick-on-Suir has to offer, everyone worked together on the day to ensure the whole event was a success”.

The Tractors and Tudors Christmas Festival was an outstanding success, seamlessly combining history, community spirit, and festive fun into an unforgettable celebration.

For more information on upcoming events and the Explore Carrick-on-Suir Quest Map, follow @ExploreCarrickOnSuir on social med