Full of the Pipe is a real tonic to truckers in these difficult times 

30/06/2025

The message from the organisers of Full of the Pipe to truckers this year is a simple and heartfelt one: look after yourselves and look after one another! 

Full of the Pipe provides an invaluable outlet to truckers, where old and new acquaintances can be renewed, problems and worries left outside for one weekend every year, and everybody can celebrate the many positives of trucking and life in general. 

There are more and more pressures – both mental and physical - piling up on everyone who has to work for a living and pay bills, so it’s great to have this opportunity to take some ‘me’ time and focus on fun, friends and family. 

Thousands of us will congregate at Mondello Park again over the weekend of July 12th and 13th for the latest edition of Ireland’s premier truck show – Full of the Pipe Convoy 25 – and in the build-up to the event there’s a buzz of positivity and excitement in the air that’s almost palpable. For one weekend this year, truckers can let their hair down (if they have any left…) and celebrate being part of a wonderful community. 

It’ll go by in a flash and we’ll be back behind the wheel before we know it, so let’s make the most of this special occasion… 

“We’re really looking forward to meeting all the truckers and all the friends we have made down through the years,” confirms Colin Hegarty. “With the event having moved to Mondello Park, myself and Kevin now have more time to spend on the hospitality side of things and that’s an aspect of it we are very excited about. 

“Full of the Pipe has become a very unique and special outlet to a lot of truckers and this couldn’t have happened at a better time because the mental health of many truckers is on the floor at the moment. The everyday pressures are unreal and something like Full of the Pipe can hopefully help relieve some of them. 

“Earlier this year, we lost a great man, Eamonn Corr, who was part of the trucking community. Eamonn first started going to Full of the Pipe in Cavan 14 years ago and was a real showman but sadly is no longer with us. The way truckers rally around one another and around families in need in tough times is nothing short of amazing. 

“There’s no help out there for raising awareness of mental health in the trucking industry apart from Breaker Breaker Charity Truck Show in Northern Ireland and I feel this is an area we all need to be aware of. It’s important that we are there for each other. 

“Trucking can be a very lonely and challenging job. The fact that the driver is on his own so much – especially if they’re out on the continent, etc. – is concerning. Of course, they all have phones with them but sometimes there are long gaps between any real human contact. It’s not easy. One thing Full of the Pipe offers is that we can all spend some quality time together in a fun and friendly environment.” 

While the promotion and betterment of mental health wasn’t necessarily one of the reasons why Full of the Pipe started up, it’s definitely become a central component of the show today. 

This will of course be the second summer staging of Full of the Pipe in Mondello (and the third in total) and it’s fair to say the show has been rejuvenated since moving to this iconic venue. “We’re going to do our best with the show to make sure there is as much great entertainment there for everybody as possible,” Colin continues. “For example, we have the Danny Byrne Band in the bar on the Saturday night and they really are a great band who should appeal to truckers, not least because they have a strong involvement in the industry themselves. Last year was a massive success and the relationship we have with Mondello is second to none … we’re expecting to take things to another level this year because of that. 

“We look after all the lorries on the ground and Mondello take care of the upkeep of the grounds themselves and that takes off a lot of the pressure, so we have more time at our disposal to mingle with people than we would have had at previous venues. 

“Look, shows get harder every year and it’s still a big commitment to put one on. There are new challenges every year and that’s a sign of the times we live in. But the bottom line is that without the truckers Full of the Pipe would not be still here after 17 or 18 years. This show is for the truckers but at the same time they are the ones who make it a success. 

“We’re looking forward to another great show. All the boxes are ticked on our end and we are ready to rock and roll. All we need now is a bit of good weather this year and we are flying. Even without perfect weather, it’s on tar and people can walk around and push buggies if they have to and enjoy the craic. 

“The craic them boys have over the course of the weekend is unreal. They come in on the Friday night and polish their lorries and morale is great. There’s an unbelievable buzz. People just crave it, they long for a weekend like this. You have the Waterford and Tipperary boys putting on shows, too, but there aren’t enough of them in Ireland. We need more. It’s good for the industry and good for people’s state of mind and it would be great if we could find a place for more.” 

Colin agrees that there has been a sea-change in the overall vibe since Full of the Pipe relocated to Mondello: “Compared to the show in Punchestown, where there was a lot of pressure, the partnership with Mondello has made it enjoyable again. The pressure was enormous but has been lifted for the last two shows at Mondello. 

“We’ve got the hospitality back into it again, which is massive, and can mingle with visitors again. We lost that in Punchestown and are delighted to have it back. We’re closing in on 20 years now and that rush of adrenaline you get in your veins when the lorries start to roll on is still savage, maybe stronger than ever. There’s something special in the air and we love it.” 

As we get older, the passage of time seems to speed up and the gap between one year and the next appears smaller. Is time one of the biggest enemies when trying to organise a massive event on the scale of Full of the Pipe? 

“You finish up one show and go straight into preparing for the next one. Before you know it, the show is only months away, then weeks… It certainly doesn’t be long going by,” says Kevin Mulqueen. 

“We’re all set for July 12th and 13th at Mondello Park again, that’s what we’ve been building towards and the 2025 show is on the horizon now. We’re going down the road of the Convoy theme this year, with the American trucks, and we’ll also have the mini trucks coming over and the monster truck – they are all passenger vehicles and it’ll add a bit more excitement and entertainment. 

“We’re looking for anyone with an American-themed truck to come and support the show, although of course as ever all trucks and commercial vehicles are more than welcome. Kris Kristofferson passed away in September and it was his passing that brought the Convoy theme to mind. It adds a theme to the weekend, which is important, and Mondello Park is a great venue. Each year we bring the show there, it will get better. It might take a number of years before you get fully fitted and suited and booted but we are very close now.” 

As Kevin and Colin have reiterated time and time again, Full of the Pipe is by the trucker, for the trucker and of the trucker. “The biggest thing behind Full of the Pipe is that it’s there for the working man and the working truck,” Kevin points out. “It’s not just for customised or show trucks but for literally anybody who wants to come along and park up their truck for the weekend and have a good time in good company. We’re not just focusing on the big trucker or the elite trucks. 

“Having said that, the standard of trucks in the country is easily on a par with anywhere else in Europe now and that’s something worth celebrating. There are phenomenal trucks out there and a lot of Irish flags flying out there. All I’ll say is this: if you have an engine or anything at all you want to show off, then bring it to Full of the Pipe.” 

Kevin echoes Colin’s sentiment about how good it is to be hosting the event at Mondello: “We have a great team of lads out there and we get great help from the Mondello team. It’s great to get that support. We are looking forward to the weekend and to working with Mondello again. This will be our third show there and they really are fabulous to work with. As it’s a working venue, in terms of what they offer to our people on the ground, it makes life a lot easier and eases the pressure big time.” 

Funding the show and making it as financially viable and affordable as possible is always going to be an issue, not least with the cost of living crisis biting hard. “In the current economic climate, the hardest part is getting sponsorship,” says Kevin. “The more support and backing you can get, the better. A lot of shows and runs have died a death because the support isn’t there. You need that sponsorship. All our sponsors are back on board again this year and that’s brilliant. 

“It’s an expensive country to live in at the minute, but the show is there. People can pull in on the Friday up until 11pm and they can register on the Saturday morning and they have the whole weekend there to have a few drinks, catch up with old friends, meet and greet. There’s so much to do, so much entertainment for all the family, with music all weekend and the Danny Byrne Band on the Saturday night are going to be brilliant. Full of the Pipe is there for the working truck, the customised truck, the light commercial vehicle – it’s there for everybody.” 

At Mondello, there’s capacity for an unlimited number of trucks as well as more room in the trade village and the sky really is the limit for how big Full of the Pipe could get going forward. “People just need to get on board and support it,” says Kevin. “I’d definitely like to see more of the main dealers getting involved. The show is giving them free publicity and it’s clear that the industry and the truckers in Ireland need more support back from the dealers and suppliers. 

“You see it at the shows in the UK where the likes of Scania, Volvo and Mercedes go above and beyond to offer support and make their presence felt. We need them on board here, too, as a way of showing the industry that they appreciate our support. You need everybody on board and I feel strongly that they need to step up and support not only our show but every truck show here in Ireland. There’s an element of publicity and contact and networking to it – a more personal way of getting out and meeting their customers. Not everything can be done over the phone or online… 

“That’s one thing myself and Colin have always done. We like to get out there in person and meet people. The human contact is very important. Get out there and meet people and talk to them. 

“All in all, though, we couldn’t be more excited and we hope everybody who comes along this year has a great time. I’m confident they will. From our own perspective, a lot of the stress has gone out of the show since we started working with Mondello, who are dealing with events every day of the week. The show itself is all on tar and the facilities at Mondello are second to none. There are hot showers and toilets and everybody and every vehicle will be clean, safe and secure.” 

Full of the Pipe Truck Show Ireland is on July 12 & 13 in Mondello Park