GALLERY: Old engine charity drive was a real steam effort
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Stephan Larkin and Andrea McPhillips, Navan, with their engine ‘Lorna Doone’. Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 16
Crossing the River Boyne in Trim with Trim Castle in the background. Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 16
Engines on the way to the Porchfields, Trim for th official Steam Run start. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 16
Steam traction engines lined up in front of Yellow Steeple, Trim. PHOTOS GERRY SHANAHAN Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 16
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Engines ready... Maggie Rose Connolly. Gerry ShanahanImage 7 of 16
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Full concentration needed. Gerry ShanahanImage 9 of 16
Katie and Tadhg Murray with Barbara Donnelly, Trim. Gerry ShanahanImage 10 of 16
Noel Fitzsimons, Stephan Clarke, Trim and Meath senior football manager, Colm O’Rourke. Gerry ShanahanImage 11 of 16
Marie O’Brien, Barry Hickey and Bettie Smith, Moynalty. Gerry ShanahanImage 12 of 16
Meath football manager, Colm O’Rourke, Mattie Smith, Ronan Gaynor and Cillian Gaynor. Gerry ShanahanImage 13 of 16
Meath GAA football manager, Colm O’Rourke. Gerry ShanahanImage 14 of 16
Tom Duignan and Tom Farrelly cut the ribbon to launch the event with Ronan Gaynor, chairperson Moynalty Steam Threshing on left and Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (right). Gerry ShanahanImage 15 of 16
Olivia Smith, Caroline Smith, RTE personality Hugh Wallace and Beverley Brooks, Trim. Gerry ShanahanImage 16 of 16
Caroline Smith of Feileacain. Gerry ShanahanMassive crowds turn out along the route of the Meath Steam Run, which took place last Friday and Saturday.
The run, which was held in conjunction with Celtic Steamers and Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival, featured 20 full size steam engines and five miniatures which travelled through towns and villages from Trim to Navan to Kells and back to Moynalty to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland and Féileacáin, a charity that supports bereaved parents around the time of birth.
Organiser Ronan Gaynor who is heavily involved in the iconic Moynalty Steam Threshing said they were thrilled at the success of the venture.
"We had huge support. There was huge turn out in all the towns and villages, Trim, Navan, Kells, Carlanstown, Moynalty.
"We raised way more than expected. We are still totting it up and we will be presenting the cheque to the charities on Saturday 10th August, the day before the Steam Threshing Festival. "A lot of families came out. It was great the kids really enjoyed it and the weather was great.
"We would like to thank all the communities for their support, the businesses that sponsored us and those who allowed us park overnight, Trim GAA, Athboy Community Council, LMETB in Navan, Meath County Council for the use of the Porchfields, and those who did the catering for us afterwards."
"We particularly want to thank the ticket collectors, stewards, and Celtic Steamers.”
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, Meath GAA manager Colm O'Rourke, TV personality, Hugh Wallace, Cllr Sarah Reilly; 93-year-old Tommy Dignam , the oldest resident in Moynalty and Tommy Farrell, were there for the launch and the trip ended in Moynalty on Saturday night with live bands, food vendors, a full bar and a BBQ.
“I've always had a love for steam engines,” said Ronan Gaynor.
“I don't have one but I always had a passion for them and a lot of memories around the steam engines coming to Moynalty down through the years,” he added.
“I thought the charity run would be a good idea and approached my friends who have steam engines throughout the country to see if this was something they would be interested in doing.
“They came on board straight away with it and these machines are coming from all over the country from as far as the very top of Tyrone down to Cork.
The inaugural Meath Steam Run that took place in 2018 raised an incredible €43,000 for Meath Palliative Care and the Meath Hospice Home Care Movement.