Vintage and Classic Car Run takes in rural Westmeath and Offaly

By David Flynn

Classic and vintage cars from around the country gathered at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel grounds in Athlone last Saturday morning for the beginning of their 39th annual run of the Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club.

Among those taking part were several local enthusiasts, including Gerry Wade from Taughmaconnell, Roy and Heather Lowe and Roy Gandy from Athlone, and father and son drivers, Davin and Oliver Kelly, among many others including former Offaly county councillor Connie Hanniffy, who is long-time rally secretary.

Gerry Wade has owned his 1979 classic, a Datsun Laurel for 15 years, after what he describes as a rather accidental purchase.

“I went to England to buy a different car,” said Gerry. “The car I went over to look at wasn’t up to scratch. A man had this car in a shed for 20 years, and it belonged to his father-in-law. It had only 52,000 miles on it.”

Gerry brought the car back from England after driving it from Taunton to around Pembroke, about 200 miles, before eventually bringing it to Ireland.

“It’s a very reliable car,” he said, explaining that he keeps it in a heated shed.

Gerry said the car had never undergone a major restoration, although he has redone the wheels and dealt with a few scratches.

Athlone man Roy Lowe was taking part in his 1953 MG TD, which he too has owned for around 15 years.

Roy is a regular on Vintage and Classic Car Runs and said he was heading off on another car tour soon, having already had a busy summer of motoring.

Connie Hanniffy said there were 47 cars on the Saturday run, from the period of 1925 up to 1999.

“The route today brings us from Athlone to that nice village of Ballinahown then we go across the countryside to cutaway bogland to come out at Leamore and we turn to the Boora Lake District and beautiful environmental area and we have a couple of hours there and we go down into Pollagh, the home of turf cutting, and we visit the lovely church, St Mary’s there, and see the bog oak on the altar and sanctuary, which is fabulous. We come back then by St. Manchan’s monastery, back into Ferbane and from there back to Athlone.”

Connie recalls that the first Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club run in Athlone was in 1987.

“Next year will be our 40th anniversary in Athlone,” she said. She said the event provoked lots of memories and mentioned the late Mary O’Rourke and late Paddy Cooney, who had helped start the runs in previous years.

“I was looking through a brochure of 2019, just before the pandemic and ten people with us then are now with God, and that’s only seven years. It just shows you how fragile we all are, and how quick the time flies.”

Another Athlone participant, Roy Gandy, has also been involved with the club and its rallies since the early days.

He brought along his 1971 Morris Minor (Traveller), which he bought many years ago and subsequently repainted and restored.

“I’ve been to all the rallies since they first started, and they used to have it in my building, the Paddock (Hotel), and we had good times there,” said Roy.

Davin Kelly, from Drum, took part in his 1973 Ford Escort Mexico Mark I, which he has owned for almost 20 years.

“It’s a nice, reliable car, a bit of fun and lovely to drive,” said Davin. “I’ve kept the 1,600cc engine and four-speed gearbox as close to standard as possible.”

Davin’s a tall guy and has lowered the seats to make the car more comfortable for himself.

“The biggest problem is interior parts and trim, like seats,” he said, explaining that mechanical and body parts are relatively easy to find because of the huge following for the Escort Mexico.

Davin’s father, Oliver Kelly, drove his 1966 Ford Cortina GT on the day.

Oliver bought the car around 26 years ago, but after restoring it and owning other cars, it eventually ended up under sheets in the corner of his shed for about five years.

Davin encouraged him to take it out again last year and he carried out further work, and this year it was featured strongly in the classic car run.

After 39 years of the vintage and classic cars travelling from Athlone, the club now has ample anticipation for their big 40th anniversary run in 2027.