Tassagh charity farm show raises more than £9,000 for Lisanally Special School

A family-focused farm experience near Tassagh has raised more than £9,000 for Lisanally Special School in Armagh, after a sold-out “Silent Dairy Farm & Machinery Show” gave children and adults with disabilities the chance to explore tractors, machinery and farm animals in a calm setting.

The event was organised by Tassagh farmer John Faloon with Diverse Minds Events and held on Sunday at his father-in-law Stanley Livingstone’s large dairy farm between Killylea and Benburb. The fundraising total was still rising after the show, with a further £300 donated on Tuesday and another £60 received on Wednesday morning.

The event was reported by Armagh I on August 20, 2026. John said donations remained open for another week or so for anyone who had missed the event or had not yet contributed.

A quiet, accessible day on the farm

The idea came after John and his wife, Christina, brought their six-year-old son Josh, who is non-verbal autistic and attends Lisanally Special School, to a sensory car show at Slieve Donard in Newcastle, County Down. After seeing how much Josh enjoyed that experience, the couple decided to create something similar in a farm environment.

Ticket numbers were deliberately limited so the venue would not become crowded or noisy. Although the weather was poor, much of the programme was indoors and the event went ahead as planned.

Families were able to get close to tractors and machinery, as well as calves and cows. The arrangement was intended to provide an opportunity that some visitors might not otherwise have had, while keeping the day relaxed and manageable.

“It was a success from the start,” said John, “apart from the weather, but we had it in place if the weather was bad it would still go ahead, as a lot of it was indoors.”

The show sold out, although one or two families who had booked tickets did not attend in the afternoon. John said the reduced numbers meant the site never felt busy, which was central to the event’s purpose.

“We had cut the numbers, because we didn’t want it busy, didn’t want it noisy, but it was just great.”

Families later contacted John online to thank him for the experience. He said parents told him their children had loved the day and that they had not seen them smile so much in a long time.

Local businesses and volunteers help deliver the event

The show depended on support from John’s family, farm staff, neighbours, contractors and local businesses. WS Livingstone and Sons sponsored the event, alongside John’s employer, Caledon Estate Company. Staff at WS Livingstone and Sons also helped with preparations and delivery on the day.

Food and drinks providers volunteered their services. Joanne Shilliday from the Hole in the Wall brought her juice cart, while Linda and Bethany McKenzie from Major’s Pantry in Moy supplied traybakes and other treats.

Brian from Cordelia’s Newry Road provided food for the people who helped and supplied machinery, feeding more than 100 people that evening. John said the level of local support was so strong that some offers of help had to be declined because organisers were keeping the event small and quiet.

“It was the support of the families who booked the tickets that made it such a success, because that’s what our main priority was, offering that opportunity for kids and adults with a disability to come in and get up and close to machinery.”

Donations remain open as organisers consider what comes next

John said the initial fundraising ambition had been far more modest: £1,000 from ticket sales and a further couple of thousand pounds in donations. The total had already passed £9,000 by Wednesday morning, with donations arriving from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as from friends in England.

“At the start we thought if we could raise £1,000 through tickets and raise another couple of thousand through donations, we’d be flying, but we’ve already surpassed that three times over.”

Once the final amount is known, John plans to speak with Lisanally Special School about how the money can best benefit its pupils.

A similar initiative in 2027 has not been ruled out, although no decision has been made. John said the idea would be discussed around Christmas, with possibilities including a different type of event or school trips to the farm. For now, the focus remains on completing the current fundraiser and confirming the final donation total.