Autumn Run September 2017
The Irish Model T Club Annual Autumn Run took place this year on Sunday 17th September 2017. Over 12 cars gathered at the Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise to be greeted by our host, Sean McEvoy. After our usual coffee, tea and chat, we were given a drivers bri’efing by Sean before setting off in lovely mild weather for our drive around the Midlands.
We drove on lovely quiet scenes roads through the villages of Ballyroan, The Swan and Newtown on our way to Carlow for lunch. The sun was breaking through as we enjoyed the Autumn colour of the countryside before parking up at the Seven Oaks Hotel. After a truly delicious meal, it was back to our cars for the next part of our tour.
We took the road to Athy to visit the Ernest Shackleton Museum at the Athy Heritage Centre where we were treated to most interesting video shows on an early Gordon Bennett Run, footage of the Endurance Exhibition and Tom Crean’s Antartic explorations.
The Heritage Centre is well worth a visit as it houses the only permanent exhibition anywhere devoted to Ernest Shackleton. The Museum is also home to material on the Great War and the Gordon Bennet race, which is celebrated annually in the town.
We left the town square of Athy and proceeded on our way going over an old stone bridge through Vicarstown and Stradbally. The drive was perfect for Model T travelling, sunshine and blue skies with a gentle breeze. We arrived back safely at the Maldron Hotel in good time to load up our cars and head for home.
It was a wonderful day in all respects and huge thanks to Sean McEvoy who always goes to great lengths to find a different route for us to enjoy each year.
This run is usually the last one of the season and indeed this has been a particularly busy one for all T members. To each and every one of the members who organised runs, we thank you and look forward with anticipation to another great year of T adventures in 2018.
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