Wicklow farmer Michael Keegan made a memorable stop at Killarney’s World Ploughing Monument on Friday during his 690km ‘Miles of Hope’ charity tractor run from Mizen Head to Malin Head.

Keegan is undertaking the six-day journey across Ireland behind the wheel of a fully restored Deutz D40L tractor.

The machine carries immense family history, as it is the exact tractor driven by his grandfather, Charlie Keegan, when he won the 12th World Ploughing Championship in Fuchsenbigl, Austria, in September 1964.

The stop at the Mission Road monument created a special link between two landmark moments in agricultural history, connecting Charlie Keegan’s 1964 victory with Killarney’s own historic role as host of the 1954 World Contest—the very first held on European soil.

The 1954 event in Killarney also made history by introducing female competitors to the international stage, crowning Northern Ireland’s Hugh Barr as men’s champion and establishing the inaugural ‘Farmerette’ class.

Beyond honoring his family’s deep roots in Irish agriculture, Keegan’s trek is focused on raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention charities Pieta and 3TS.

“Sadly, suicide continues to be a tragedy that is all too common in rural farming communities,” Keegan said during his stop. “My main aim is to raise awareness about the help available for anyone who finds themselves in a crisis. Help starts in the community, and my hope is that this journey encourages everyone to be open to speaking about suicide if they’re in trouble. This is a special tractor with a lot of history, and it is fitting to use it to give back.”

Flora and fauna celebrated during Heritage Week

Chris Barron and Tara Buckley from the Killarney National Park Education Centre led a series of popular guided walks across the Muckross Peninsula as part of National Heritage Week.

The events highlighted both the rich history and biodiversity of the park, drawing strong interest from locals and visitors alike. A standout feature of the week was the nocturnal guided walk, where ideal nighttime conditions offered participants a glimpse into local wildlife with significant bat activity recorded along the route.
The guided walks coincided with the early signs of the seasonal transition across the park, as autumn leaves begin shifting to lighter greens and rich browns across the Muckross landscape.
Photos: Valerie O’Sullivan.