Adare April 2017
The first run of the 2017 season took place in Co Limerick on Sunday 23rd April 2017.
Hosted as usual by David and Marian Cuddy, together with their family, this run kicks off the year of runs for the T enthusiasts. As always, it is a much looked forward to event as it signals the end of winter and the promise of brighter and longer days.
First of all, here is a selection of Model T Ford cars at Adare Machinery:
A great turnout of 25 Model T Ford cars gathered in Adare for the tea, coffee, scones and other goodies on offer before we headed off. This was the largest turnout for a one day event. Cars were presented in tip top condition and gleaning in the spring sunshine.
The sky was blue and the day was bright and mild as we sallied forth on the planned route of the County Limerick highways and byways, more byways than highways. The countryside was looking so fresh as we drove along. Springtime is such a beautiful time. Nature is waking after her Winter sleep and the trees are beginning to turn that lovely pale green as the leaves appear across the entire landscape. Primroses are dotting the banks along the roads and there were clumps of bluebells to be admired also.
Our first stop was the Old Irish Ways Museum near Meanus. This award winning museum represents a true and unique reflection of a forgotten Ireland. A truly amazing place, it brings back memories of school days in a classroom of bygone days, an old blacksmith forge, an old style pub, which incorporated a shop, a carpenter’s workshop and a huge display of household items of a bygone age plus old tools and farm implements.
For the motoring enthusiast, there are displays of motor oil cans,advertising signs and all sorts of other memorabilia, not forgetting a 1964 Massey Ferguson tractor. A fascinating trip down memory lane and well worth the visit.
We were introduced to an old gentleman who was born in 1925 and requested if he may sit in a vehicle in the year of his birth. Pat O’Shea (92) was introduced to Pat Daly who welcomed him aboard his 1925 Fordor saloon. Pat told our writer that when he was a youth, people would stand, stare and admire a motorcar whenever it passed on the road, as for the most part transport was provided by the humble donkey and the noble horse.
Nowadays, he says, things have changed and the mere sight of a donkey is a show stopper. He recalled the story of a journalist who asked Mr. Henry Ford of the successful ingredient to a long and happy marriage and his reply was that he stuck to just one Model T.
After our traditional group photo, we left the Museum and made our way to our next stop, the Bake House Restaurant in Bruff. We enjoyed an excellent Sunday lunch in this popular venue, while our parked T’s provided much interest outside. There were cameras snapping happily and of course many “selfies” with the ever present mobile phone.
For year 2017 our club will present organisers with a turned traditional Irish platter. Last year it was bowls made of native Irish beech. Our Club Chairman Vincent Kelly made a presentation to David and thanked him on our behalf. David responded and said he was blown over with the support from so many to come to Adare for the run and hoped we enjoyed the occasion. He and Marian look forward to another such event next year.
The secretary conveyed the best wishes of our Chairman Raymond Megaw who would have liked to be amongst us in Adare but other matters got in the way. So too for two other members who would be regulars on the spring run.
A special welcome was extended to Adrian and Caroline Violett who recently joined up as members and were on their maiden voyage on their new to them of a 1921 Touring Car. A temporary loan of a coil, detected by Eamon Dunne, ensured a faultless Sunday journey. We hope that they get hooked in Ts and join in on another outing with us.
Lorraine Dunne brought her mobile clothing shop along together with husband in tow and two little boys and displayed the club’s new lines for All to admire. Our outfits now boast of two colours, navy blue and traditional irish green. We how have sweatshirts, jackets, gilets, t-shirts and other paraphernalia. Orders were brisk and top lines sold out. Lorraine has taken orders for delivery at our next events in May, being festival of Transport at Punchestown on 14th and West Waterford spring run on 21st May next.
Something will have to be done about members failing to respond to invitations to events. Our hosts had booked 35 places for Sunday lunch. In the end 68 people were fed to perfection. Our Secretary thanked the 13 car owners for responding which was a 50% response. Room for improvement members!
We made our way back to Adare on delightful roads well suited to our cars. We can safely say there were no hills to tackle on the route.
A big thank you to all involved in this great run. Our excellent motorbike stewards, John O’Connell,Paddy Loftus, Larry Power,Ger Toomey, Mike Donghue and Pat Mulcahy. Great work lads. Safety is paramount especially with 100 year old cars for many many reasons and good people acting responsibly at various junctions make driving Edwardian cars even more pleasurable.
Our Tailend Charlie, John O’Shaughnessy who thankfully was not needed, but good to know he was there, was omnipresent keeping a watchful eye on participators. John has provided this service for us for a long time and we really appreciate his efforts. Next time we better make an effort to thank him publicly for his time and interest in us.
ast word to David, Marian and family; there was a record turnout, a reflection of your generous and welcoming hospitality; we had a wonderful day. Well done to everyone.
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