Don’t put away your vintage and classic machine just yet, as there are still a good number of excellent events in store around the country this coming weekend.
The first piece of news we bring you is on a sad note, in regards to Mountbellew Vintage Club’s long-anticipated show on the grounds of Mountbellew Mart in Galway – this normally takes place in July, but had to be postponed this year to this Sunday the 24th of September due to poor weather. Now, unfortunately this new date has also had to be cancelled for a second time due to ground conditions, so this event is not going ahead for 2023. A very popular event that’s built up a great name for itself over the years, we look forward to seeing Mountbellew Vintage Show back in action in 2024. For more details, call 086 2157160 or see the Mountbellew Vintage Club’s Facebook page.
Another highly-regarded event that is taking place this weekend is the Castledermot Vintage Club’s annual threshing and vintage working day in the Co. Carlow town. Festivities kick off on Saturday night at 7pm with a steam engine parade followed by a barbeque and music in O’Neill’s Bar. The gates to the main event open the following morning (Sunday the 24th) at noon, with all sorts of family fun in store including a dog show, bric a brac, tractor pulling, crafts and, of course, vintage and classic vehicles and machines galore. There’ll be live music all day, and proceeds go to local charities including Castledermot Ladies’ Football Club. For more details, call Catherine on 085 7602627 or see the club’s Facebook page.
Another rescheduled vintage show taking place on Sunday the 24th is the Ballinagree Vintage Club’s field day in Ballinagree village, north of Macroom in Co. Cork. Their 20th anniversary event, the club have a lot lined up for the day, which will be officially opened at 1pm by Special Olympics world medal holder Seamus O’Sullivan. With side shows, dog show, competitions for the best-dressed lady and gent and a large display of vintage and classic cars and tractors, it’s shaping up to be a fun day out for all ages – for more details, call Joanne on 087 0941167 or see the Ballinagree Vintage page on Facebook.
Elsewhere in the country, Dunderry Vintage Club will hold their annual threshing festival in the Co. Meath village on Saturday the 23rd from 2pm, featuring extensive working displays with two threshing mills in action, music from The Highwaymen and a competition for the longest sod! See their Facebook page for more information or call Seamus on 086 8662446. Moving east, the seaside town of Bray in Co. Wicklow will be invaded by classics this weekend for the Bray Vintage Car Club’s 2023 Vintage Weekend. Open to all pre-1993 cars, there will be a leisurely and scenic road run on Saturday the 23rd starting from Newtownmountkennedy, in advance of a static show on Bray’s Victorian seafront by the bandstand on Sunday the 24th – all of Sunday’s display cars are asked to be in position by 12.30pm and to remain until 4pm. For more details, see the club’s Facebook page or call 086 1650353.
In addition to all of the above shows there are a variety of road runs taking part all over the island, from the Ulster Vintage Commercial Vehicle Club’s end-of-season run to the Broomhill Vintage Club’s DenJoe Dineen Memorial Vintage & Classic Car Run from Carrigadrohid in Cork – see below for a full list, and wherever you end up this weekend we hope you travel safely and have a great day out!
22nd to 24th September: Cortina Owners Club of Ireland’s Autumn Run to the Abbey Hotel, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork; for details, call Pat Ryan on 087 2663986 or John O’Sullivan on 087 2989277.
23rd September: The Annual Clady Vintage Club Harvest Threshing Festival, Dunderry, Co. Meath from 2pm; for details, call Seamus on 086 8662446.
23rd & 24th September: Bray Vintage Car Club’s 15th Annual Vintage Weekend in Bray, Co. Wicklow, with run on Saturday and show on Sunday; for more info, see the club’s Facebook page or call 086 1650353.
23rd & 24th September: Ulster Vintage Commercial Vehicle Club’s End of Season Run; for details, call Adrian on 0044 (0)78 66413023, Trevor on 0044 (0)77 11243134 or Liam on 0044 (0)78 01771128.
24th September: Mountbellew Vintage Show, on the grounds of Mountbellew Mart, Mountbellew, Co. Galway, rescheduled from previous July date due to weather. Open to all types of vintage exhibits over 30 yrs old. Wanted for special displays are oil engines, Porsche cars and Lanz Bulldog tractors; for more details, call 086 2157160.
24th September: Broomhill Vintage Club’s DenJoe Dineen Memorial Vintage & Classic Car run, with registration at 11am for departure at noon from Carrig Inn, Carrigadrohid, Co. Cork; for details, call Tadgh on 087 2426343 or Tim on 086 8663729.
24th September: Ballinagree Vintage Club’s vintage field day in Ballinagree village, near Macroom, Co. Cork. PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE; for info, call Joanne O’Riordan on 087 0941167.
24th September: Clare Vintage Club’s Anthony Barry Memorial Run; for more info call Kieran Fox on 086 8762597.
24th September: Castledermot Vintage Club’s 14th Annual Vintage Day in Castledermot, Co.Kildare, in aid of charity, with parade and BBQ on Sat 23rd; for more info, call Catherine on 085 7602627.