Powerful Tipperary communities unite to provide valuable support for cancer care services

The strength of rural communities in Tipperary was evident in Golden on an evening when over €70,000 was handed over to cancer care charities.

It was a night full of emotion and pride at the Bridge House in Golden as the inspiration behind an incredible fundraiser were two much loved members of communities that passed away after their own battle with cancer.
The funds were raised by the biggest ever tractor run held in Tipperary on New Year’s Day when 436 tractors took part from all over the country.

Members of the Prendergast and Morrissey families who suffered a profound loss with the passing of Tommy Prendergast and Melissa Morrissey, were incredibly proud that the fundraiser will help so many people in the future as they face a battle with cancer.

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“The support for this fundraiser was just jaw-dropping.People were incredible, just out of this world,” said Michael Cunningham of Dualla Ploughing Association who organised the event in memory of Tommy Prendergast and Melissa Morrissey. The Dualla Ploughing Association has regularly carried out fundraisers for South Tipperary Hospice for decades and they were approached by the Prendergast family who wanted to support the charity.

TOMMY PRENDERGAST
“Tommy Prendergast was a member of Poulmucka Ploughing and he was known all over the country.
“Melissa Morrissey was from Dualla and we decided to do the tractor run in memory of both of them,” said Michael Cunningham.
“This fundraiser was a fitting tribute to both Tommy and Melissa who both passed away with cancer.
“To lose two people so highly thought of in their own communities was a huge blow to people and we had to do something,” said Michael.

Michael said there was a massive team involved in the organisation of the tractor run and every one of them deserved enormous credit.
He was very proud to hand over cheques of just over €36,000 to both the Irish Cancer Society and the South Tipperary Hospice on the night.

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The Dualla Ploughing Association has been raising funds for South Tipperary Hospice for many years and had raised €17,000 earlier in 2024 for the charity.
Sean O’Donovan, Chairman of South Tipperary Hospice said they were very humbled to see the level of support for the charity at the handover of the cheques in Golden. “The tractor run was an incredible community effort with so many people involved. The Dualla Ploughing Association have been long-standing fundraisers for the charity and everybody in the Hospice greatly appreciates their dedication and commitment to the charity,” he said.
He paid tribute to the two families who lost a loved one and said the funds that would go to the South Tipperary Hospice would help so many families.

Sean O’Donovan told the huge crowd in Golden that South Tipperary Hospice was in the process of introducing new services to help people and their families take on an enormous challenge at a very difficult time in their lives.
“These funds will enable us to provide good services and support for people and their families from the moment they receive an unexpected diagnosis,” he said.

Mary Prendergast, wife of the late Tommy Prendergast, said the tractor run was a great tribute to Tommy and Melissa.
“Tommy was always there for people. He was known all over the country in farming and contracting circles, he was a great supporter of local community organisations and fundraising events, generous with his time and knowledge and was always available to help anyone. We were blown away by the support of people on the day and by the amazing generosity shown by so many people,” said Mary.

MELISSA MORRISSEY
Evan Morrissey, a brother of Melissa, said everybody involved was very appreciative of the massive support shown by the people of Tipperary for the tractor run.
He hoped that the funds would support the research taking place into the causes of cancer and it was the wish of his family that the funds would be spent towards finding an answer to prevent the disease.

“Melissa was part of the Dualla community. She went into hospital on the day of her 40th birthday and died the next day. We don’t want to see any family going through what our family had to go through and we are so pleased that these funds will support crucial research into the disease,” said Evan Morrissey.