On Thursday, Phil Gibson and Peter Plehov left New Holland’s Basildon factory in England behind the wheel of two new T6 tractors donated by the machinery manufacturer for the trip.

Each tractor is towing a shepherd’s hut built by Phil and Peter – one for sleeping accommodation and the other for fuel, oil and supplies.

The Blue Force club brings together fans of Ford, Fordson and New Holland tractors. Its members and other sponsors including New Holland dealers along the way have made donations to fund the trip.

Phil and Peter will keep raising money during the 51-day journey and profits will go to two charities, Steps Conductive Education Centre in Loughborough, and Cancer Research UK. They had raised nearly £7,000 before setting off from Basildon.

“We have lived, worked and breathed tractors all our lives, but this is something very new,” said Phil, who chairs the Blue Force club.

The convoy will land in Cork on 23 April and travel to Galway, Roscommon, Newtownards and Lusk before returning to Britain on 29 April. You can follow their progress on Twitter and Facebook.

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In pictures: tractor enthusiasts embark on 5,000-mile trek around UK and Ireland

Members of the British-based Blue Force Tractor Club are driving around these islands to celebrate 100 years of blue tractor manufacturing and raise funds for charities.