57 Vintage cars gather in Athlone before trip through Midlands

David Flynn

As they have done for the past 37 years, a full fleet of vintage cars from the Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club took off from Athlone on Saturday morning last to tour different parts of the Midlands.

Among the group were local stalwarts of car rallies, Heather and Roy Lowe, who had two cars in the rally. Heather was driving a light grey1969 Wolseley Hornet, which she has owned

for several years, while her husband Roy was driving a red 1953 MG TD.

“The Wolseley Hornet is like a mini to drive, very similar, and is really a mini with a boot on it,” said Roy. “We have the other car, the red MG TD for over twenty years.”

Fresh from taking part in a car run in Enniskillen the previous week, the Lowes are planning to also participate in an upcoming rally at the Hodson Bay hotel.

Connie Hanniffy is the long-time secretary of the Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club, and she explained the route the vintage cars would be taking on their jscenic journey through the Midlands, taking in landmarks such as Birr Castle gardens and science museum, including the great telescope constructed in 1845; historic Clonony Castle which is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland and visiting Cloghan, Banagher, Borrisokane, and the Old Batteries in Athlone.

Of the 57 vintage cars registered for the rally, Connie Hanniffy said the oldest is a 1932 Wolseley Hornet special, from an owner in Castlebar, who was at the first Midlands Vintage rally in Athlone in 1987.

Connie had two cars in the Midlands rally. She was driving her own 1972 Rover P6 3500 V8 and her other car, a 1972 MGB was driven by Simon Perry of Belmont, Co. Offaly