Started in 2018, The Nenagh Christmas Tractor lights parade has become a much loved annual event. However 2020's event, due to Covid-19, was instead shown online at 7pm on the 19th of December. 

The uncertainty of the moment and the need to protect each other encouraged the event organisers to think outside the box on how to bring the magic of the ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ safely to the community. This year’s celebration was filmed ahead of time in Nenagh and viewed virtually, available to family and friends around the world. ‘This year’s virtual celebration gave a great opportunity for members of our community who did not live locally or were unable to travel home this Christmas to participate in this unique tradition’ commented event organizer Albert Purcell. “Proceeds are split between Embrace FARM and Billy Goulding, Billy’s recovery, for the local little lad there from Cloughjordan that would melt anyone’s heart,” continued Albert. So far over €13,000 has been raised for the two charities.

Embrace FARM, founded by Brian and Norma Rohan, supports a network of farm families who have lost a loved one or suffered serious injury in a farming accident. "Supporting the farming community is so important and we see it’s direct impact with the ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ where farmers are coming out to support their local town and community. Now more than ever that sense of community is extremely important, so we are delighted to be a recipient of the 2020  ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ fundraising efforts," said Norma.

Proceeds from the ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ will also go to Billy’s Recovery to support the care of Billy Goulding who was tragically left paralysed after contracting a virus at a young age.

Abbey Machinery and other local businesses supported the event in raising funds for Embrace FARM and Billy’s Recovery. “The ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ production brought much needed cheer to the community while raising funds for Embrace FARM and Billy’s Recovery, organisations extremely important to the Abbey team” commented Abbey Machinery Managing Director, Clodagh Cavanagh. Santa’s sleigh cost €3,000 to make and Abbey Machinery kindly paid for the cost of this.

The Agricultural Contractors of North Tipperary had worked on their tractors and displays for weeks preparing a spectacular event filled with classic tractors, Christmas lights and plenty of cheer. Entries to the run were limited to members of the Agricultural Contractors of North Tipperary resulting in remarkable, long planned, festive displays for the community to enjoy.

For those interested in viewing the showstopping spectacular you can view below.

The 2020 ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube on Saturday 19th December at 7pm on the ‘Christmas Tractors of Nenagh’ page.

Unfortunately statistics show that one farmer is killed almost every two weeks in Ireland. Over 290 lives were lost in the last 10 years alone.

One of the organisers Albert Purcell explains how people can donate:

“This year obviously we couldn’t have any bucket collections like we’d normally have so we set up a GoFundMe page on our Facebook. On that you can donate but also Embrace FARM have a great idea, they’ve set up a text. You can text the word FARM to 50300 and every text you donate €4.”