Spring Run Manor Park: 18th May 2025

We gathered at Maple Lodge Farm near Lusk in North County Dublin. The farm is owned by Michael and Geraldine Hoey and their family. Michael and his brother Gabriel are the fourth generation of the Hoey family to run the farm. The Hoey’s are one of the largest tillage growers and producers in Nth Co. Dublin farming approximately 3000 acres. The Hoey’s also operate 2 large processing plants and trade under the Country Crest and Ballymaguire Foods brand employing some 500 people.

The location of the farm, along with its manicured lawn and clear Blue Sky, was a perfect setting for a gathering of some 30 vehicles for a memorable picnic run that even Henry Ford would have enjoyed. After the usual drivers briefing and a welcome address by our host, we departed on part 1 of our journey. We travelled via the Man O War and onwards towards Ballyboughall. We passed by fields and fields of various tillage crops such as Barley, Wheat, Potatoes, Cabbages + Rapeseed to name but a few. Unfortunately, we just missed the main flowering of the Rapeseed, but I have included a photo from one of our planning trips.

For the people who live outside of Dublin and had travelled from many parts of the country to attend the run it was hard to believe that at the furthest point on the run they were no more than 20kms from Dublin Airport and that at one point we were only about 5km away. Our journey continued through areas such as Lispopple, Balheary and Oldtown. Did anyone notice the private airfield enroute?

Just after 12:15 we arrived at our mid-way point “Naul” still in Nth Co. Dublin. We had arranged a comfort stop at the Seamus Ennis centre for arts. A beautiful, thatched roof building and an award-winning performing arts centre referred to many as a hidden gem. The man himself, Seamus Ennis was a master Uillean Piper, singer and storyteller who during the 1950’s and 60’s did lots of work for RTE collecting Folklore and Folk music. His work ultimately led to the revival of traditional Irish Music and folklore.

After our refreshments we continued with the second part of the run heading in the direction of Balbriggan, our aim to reach the East Coast. As always, our cars and commercial vehicles attract lots of attention and the brilliant sunshine of the day, reflecting off the gleaming paintwork and polished metal is always a great sight to behold. Just outside Balbriggan we reached the sea and what a view. As the old saying goes, “On a good day you can see for miles” and this was certainly the case. Way off to our left, The Mountains of Mourne were visible way in the distance as well as Shennick, Colt and St Patrick’s Islands within touching distance of the shore.

We continued through the village of Skerries, traditionally a seaside town for many day trippers from the city, but nowadays a commuter town for people working in either Dublin or Drogheda. We continued along the coast towards Loughshinny before turning away from the sea to return to our base around 14:30.

Never have a group of people on a run been so punctual as this day. The element of the unknown of what was waiting for us behind the closed doors of the 35000sqft of museum space that Michael has gathered over the last number of years. Like children in a toy shop our club was privileged to visit Michael’s private collection of tractors. Brands such as Ford, Massey Ferguson and John Deere as well as the odd Zetor, Farmhall, New Holland, Allis Chalmers and JCB thrown in. All beautifully restored with many in better condition than the day they came out of the factory. As well as the tractor collection there were several beautiful Diorama displays. All the displays were perfect in their attention to detail with all vehicles adapted with working lights and some even had sound.

Located in the John Deere area there is a restaurant section. For our visit, our host Michael provided ample amounts of Tea, Coffee and a variety of cakes and treats for everyone. The whole museum is a fabulous amenity that our club were privileged to have a private viewing.

For myself however, the icing on the cake was to be able to ramble through the working farmyard area to see the workhorses that maintain the family business day to day. Massive machines and all in impeccable condition even after working on the farm. I noticed some people taking photos of their family members standing beside the tyres on the vehicles to get the size of these monsters into perspective. Imagine a machine 20 yards long, just to pick and grade potatoes…. Enormous, now you’ll understand why a bag of spuds is €7.50.

After everyone had eaten and looked around and before cars started to depart, we gathered on the lawn to thank our hosts for their very generous hospitality to our club. On behalf of our club, President John Brady thanked our hosts and presented them with a collection as a thank you. Michael Hoey is involved with many charity groups. He explained that our collection would be given to a local charity that offers support to families affected by Suicide of which there were 3 young people who died in the last month in the area.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who attended the run and helped make the day such a success. I would also like to thank Paul Rigney who kindly offered to be our Tail-end Charlie for the day (thankfully his services were not required). As our regular photographer was not present on the day I am afraid that I only have a limited supply of photos to share.

Thanks again

Paul and Robert