Baby animals and toy tractors coming to Portlaoise Plaza's Fun on the Farm day

A kids farm fun day will take over a Laois service station next Sunday, for a day that offers fun for adults too, as well as an important farm safety message.

Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17 of the M7 near Portlaoise will host a Fun on the Farm day on May 18, backed by Laois IFA and Clonad GAA.

From 12 noon until 4pm, the truck parking area will be partly taken over by hundreds of enthusiastic children and families. They can try out all kinds of tractors from toy size to a Bruder Claas giant inflatable tractor, vintage and new machines.

Laois IFA is bringing cute baby farm animals, while Clonad GAA is bringing their Alpaca, Cosmo to meet the kids. Local farmer Anthony Dunne is bringing his vintage and modern tractors.

There will be lots of competitions, and safe driving certificates for the kids who can manouevre Roly toy tractors and diggers around a racing course. An MC will be playing music and giving away prizes to add to the fun.

John Fitzpatrick is the PRO of Laois IFA, and the IFA Organic Project team chairman.

“Laois IFA are delighted to be part of this day along with others. We will have some calves, lambs, hens etc on display also a tractor and we will be there to answer any questions the boys and girls have to ask. This is a very important event from our point of view as it brings farming and animals to lots of people who might not be familiar with them," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The IFA stand will also have leaflets about safety on the farm.

There will be a fundraiser for the local GAA club in Clonad on the day, with the only fee being €2 for facepainting. Volunteer donations are welcome. The club is also hosting a rebounder competition with eight €25 fuel voucher prizes. 

Colm Mulrooney is manager at the Plaza.

"It's about farm safety but its also a fun free day for families in the area. All our plazas serve a massive hinterland of farming communities," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Read also: See full list of events for Laois Biodiversity Week

The day is part of a touring family day organised by the Plaza group for the past six years, spearheaded by Colm Banaghan from Athy. It is the second time it has come to the Portlaoise Plaza.

Fun on the Farm takes place from noon to 4pm on Sunday, May 18 at Portlaoise Plaza, Junction 17.