Ford Fest: 17th June to 11th July 2024

Out of the blue the CEO of Marina Markets in Cork asked whether we could help with a task that would be well received by Ford aficionados.

The scene or the location is the old Ford plant, the first of its kind set up in Cork at Marina on the banks of the River Lee, set up by Henry Ford himself.  He named the company, formed in 1917 Henry Ford & Son Limited.

Much has been written and published in books and magazines.  No need to delve into history for the purpose of this publication.

Marina Market is a roaring success story.  It caters for families and friends in a relaxed setting, where 27 different vendors offer choices to suit al tastes.

To make the setting attractive, events are held in the three huge halls, formerly the production plant that operated from 1919 to 1984.

The idea was, to present to the public, an assortment of tractors, cars and commercials spanning the production years without overloading with one or two popular models. This is where we came in.

With local knowledge and help from enthusiasts, it quickly turned into a display of vehicles by collectors, some with lots and others with a few, but the blend and mixture was just right.

Sundays at Marina Market are busiest, they find.  The weeklong show, starting on Wednesday, picked up patrons at an accelerated rate where the crescendo was reached on Sunday. 

The place was jam packed.  Never before had they experienced such numbers in attendance.  The show extended for a further week.

This was not a club event.  It was well worthy of our support and encouragement. 

Ford Fest was highly acclaimed.   We were proud to have played our part in fostering attention and desirability toi young and old alike.  To this extent we were modestly successful. 

We hope readers will enjoy the photographs.