IMTFC Annual General Meeting: 30th March 2025

The annual general meeting of The Irish Model T Club was held at The Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise, on Sunday 30th March 2025 at Noon.

1             PRESENT                            

John Brady (President), William Cuddy, Bob Clarke, Liam O’Connor, Michael Rigney, Robert Lambert, Clive Evans, Conor Twohill, Michael Loughran, Bernard Duffy, Elizabeth Kee, Tim Crowley, Tommy Sheridan, Sean O’Reardon, Ann Duffy, Ronald Frayne, Thomas Connor, Sean O’Gorman,John O’Nelll (D), Maire Jones, Eamon Dunne, Martin Fleming, Andrew O’Sullivan, John Daly, Sarah Mahony, John Eagers, Ann Eagers, James Stinson, John O’Neill (C), Matt Byrne, Timothy Keane, Sean McEvoy, Tom Fahey, Peter Duffy, Paul Noctor, Joan Twohill, John Hendy, Des Pearson, Declan Grogan, Valerie Cuddy, Eleanor Hendy – 41 persons present.

2             APOLOGIES        

David Cuddy, John Daly, Rev Fr. Pat O’Donovan, Alan Deasy, Steve Ellis, Jill Ellis, Michael Nolan, Tom Brett, David Hore, Teddy Gillanders, Laurence Roe,Maurice Cassidy, Vincent Kelly, Alan & Sandra Coote, Billy & Mary Ryan, June Evans, Dermot Cullen, John & Jill Vahey, John Quinn. – 22 persons 

3             DEATH NOTICE                

The meeting noted the death on Raymond Megaw (past President) and Howard Connolly.

4             OPENING OF MEETING  

President John Brady opened the proceedings.  He thanked those present and others who tendered apologies for non attendance noting another  record for our club on both counts.

5             STATUTORY NOTICE       

At least 21 clear days of notice for the holding of an AGMwas given to members both by ordinary post and e-mail.

6             ATTENDANCE RECORD  

A record of those in attendance and apologies for absence was recorded by the honorary Secretary.

7             MINUTES                           

The minutes of the 2024 AGM having been circulated beforehand with the agenda and notice were read by the Secretary and adopted by the meeting as a true and fair record.

8             TREASURER’S REPORT   

Honorary Treasurer Paul,Murphy presented his financial report for the year ended 31st December 2024.  He paid tribute to his predecessor Timothy Keane for his 31 continuous years of diligent service and fiduciary expertise in maintaining a steady financial position for our club.  There was a modest improvement in subscription collections and a careful monitoring of expenditure meaning we record a modest surplus for the year.  Club assets and net worth reserves have reached the target ceiling of €10k.  Members investment is sound, safe and secure.

9             SECRETARY’S REPORT    

Honorary Secretary William Cuddy presented his report. The club is grateful to those who organised events each month throughout the year making us dominant veteran vehicle sector. We continue to promote the Model T brand by attending just a few but key static events and publishing on our website timely reports and plenty of photographs, with the help and assistance of our web master Michael Beeney, a class leader in this field. We keep in touch on our club’s what’s app in addition to e-mail. Our membership has grown once again by the addition of eight, who are most welcome.  Our club clothing is doing very well, thanks to the dedication of Loraine and Vincent for keeping a goodly stock and their promotion of club merchandise. Our club finances are in safe hands under the management of our honorary treasurer Paul Murphy. Grateful thanks to our President in his first year in guiding and encouraging members to get out and about in socialising and enjoying our hobby in the company of each other.

10           PRESIDENT’S REPORT     

President Brady addressed the meeting, firstly thanking members for their confidence in him following his election at last years AGM.  He expressed his gratitude to the many members who took it upon themselves to organise nine active and static activities last year. Adare – David & Marian, Mallow – Liam and Margaret, Ballinadee – John and Mary, 35th Rally Michael and Raymond, Cork – Michael & Four Sons, Stradbally – John and Paul, Galway – John, Cavan – Alan and Sandra, Monaghan – Vincent Two Sons and Ballineen – Bob and Catherine.

He thanked his fellow officers, treasurer and secretary for their productive work. He welcomed Rev. Pat O’Donovan PP as our Chaplin and appreciated his gesture of offering Mass in memory of deceased members on Sunday 21st September at 11:30am in Dunmanway. At each assembly, members pay a daily fee of €5 and sign an indemnity declaration. He was pleased to welcome eight new members and see a plentiful numbers of cars and members in attendance throughout the year.  He e presses his sadness on receiving notices of the death of Raymond and Howard. The big event of our calendar year is our annual rally. The 35th rally was a cross border trip into the counties of Lough and Monaghan: pleased to see that events continue to be spread across the whole island of Ireland.  In summing up, he was pleased to have served as President for the past year and appreciated the support and loyalty from the membership at large.

11           ELECTION OF OFFICERS 

The election of officers was properly conducted with candidates proposed and duly seconded. The results were as follows:

               President John Brady

               Treasurer Paul Murphy

               Secretary William Cuddy

               Chairman Conor Twohill

12           ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS            

Agreed to maintain annual subscriptions at €10 per annum with a participation charge of €5 per day together with a signed indemnity declaration.

13           2025 EVENTS                   

The meeting approved the schedule of events for the year 2025 as follows:

27th April   Adare

18th May            Maple Lodge Farm

1st June               Carlow

8th June              Galway

15th June            Bandon

11/12th July 36th annual rally at Ballina

3rd Aug Stradbally

17th Aug             Mallow

14th Sept            Virginia

21st Sept             Dunmanway

12th Oct              Monaghan

14           36th ANNUAL RALLY      

Members look forward to our annual rally based in Ballina, Co Mayo where Thomas Conor is our host.  Pleased to receive membership in attendance from the Model T Register of Great Britain.

15           37th ANNUAL RALLY      

Members agreed to hold the 2026 event in Donegal in July.  Thomas Stinson and George Fulton will align their knowledge and bring us on a scenic tour in the Provence of Ulster.

16           ANY OTHER BUSINESS

[a]                         Agreed that as a private members club there is no need to include future events in the diary dates section of the Irish Vintage Scene monthly magazine.

[b]                         Galway Fest event is by prior written application for 2025

[c]                         John O’Neill to conscript 10 members to organise a celebratory event of the 100th anniversary of the last Model T Ford ever built on 31st December 1927 in Cork

17           THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS the meeting then ended.