In PICTURES: Laois town meets country in Portlaoise

Town met country in super sunshine at the weekend as the Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17 hosted a Fun on the Farm event backed by Laois IFA and Clonad GAA. READ MORE BELOW PICTURE. Tap NEXT or ARROW to see more pictures supplied by the Alf Harvey to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

From 12 noon until 4pm, on Sunday, May 18 the truck parking area was partly taken over by hundreds of enthusiastic children and families who got the chance to enjoy all kinds of tractors from toy size to a Bruder Claas giant inflatable tractor, vintage and new machines.

Laois farmers brought cute baby farm animals, while Clonad GAA brought Alpaca, Cosmo to meet the kids. Local farmer Anthony Dunne displayed his vintage and modern tractors.

There were lots of competitions, and safe driving certificates for the kids who can manoeuvre Roly toy tractors and diggers around a racing course.

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

“Laois IFA were delighted to be part of this day along with others. We had some calves, lambs, hens etc on display also a tractor and answered any questions the boys and girls asked. This was a very important event from our point of view as it brought farming and animals to lots of people who might not be familiar with them," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
The IFA stand had leaflets about safety on the farm.

There was also a fundraiser for the local GAA club in Clonad.

Colm Mulrooney is the manager at the Plaza.

"It's about farm safety but it's 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.

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.