Hero teacher take on Wild Atlantic Way in vintage tractor and raises €25,000 for Gaza relief

A teacher raised over €25,000 for bombed citizens in Gaza after driving a vintage tractor the Wild Atlantic Way for two weeks.

Pat Murphy drove at a top speed of just 24km per hour in his restored 1962 vintage David Brown tractor for 2,800kms between Malin Head in Donegal to Ireland’s most south-westerly point at Mizen Head in Cork. Father-of-four Pat, who is from Corofin in Galway and lives in Sallins, Kildare, set a fundraising goal of €5,000 when he did the challenge in August but his total reached over €25,000 last month.

The Wesley College Dublin woodwork teacher inched his way along the picturesque route and said he hopes it will encourage others to raise money.

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Pat said: “I have been supporting Concern for over 30 years and always admired the great work that they do. We hope our novel idea of a vintage tractor run will inspire others to help people in need too. The main challenge along the drive was the rain and wind because the tractor is open top so there was nowhere to hide.

“I had really good weather gear, but it was hard going at times. My journey was made enjoyable because of the beautiful scenery along the way. We met loads of interesting people and tourists from around the world were fascinated with what we were doing.”

Last month marked a full year of the ongoing conflict in Gaza where Israeli bombs have reduced the city to rubble. It began last October 7 when an attack by Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s air and ground strikes have killed an estimated 40,000 people in a response that has been condemned worldwide and criticised as genocide.

Pat donated the money that he raised to Irish humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide for the work they are doing in Gaza. hE volunteered for Concern in Rwanda in 1995 and 1996 after the brutal genocide that occurred there.

Concern’s Community Fundraising Manager, Joanne Arnold, thanked Pat for his “incredible contribution and selfless act of goodwill.” She said: “We are immensely grateful to Pat Murphy and all who supported him.”

Pat was accompanied by his friend Tony Harrison, who drove a camper van for them to sleep in each night, and his pal Brendan Joyce brought the tractor to Malin Head and collected it when they reached Mizen Head.

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