Midlands Vintage Classic Car Tour takes place

by David Flynn

Over 50 vintage cars gathered in Athlone recently as part of the Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club's 36th annual car run.

Connie Hanniffy is the long-time Rally Secretary and she proudly said, before they took off at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on Saturday morning, August 26, fifty-three vintage cars would be taking part in the Classic Run.

“Our oldest car is a 1923 Austin and we have cars from all over the country including some from the nearby counties of Longford, Roscommon and Galway,” said Connie who was driving a 1972 Rover on the day.

There were many different kinds of vintage cars on the run including BMWs, Fords, Wolsleys, Mercedes and Triumphs.

“There’s an old Buick and a Ford from Roscommon and my own one is a Rover, that I bought five years ago,” said Connie, who lives in Doon, Ballinahown.

She said the group was very happy with the turnout this year, whichwas up from forty-seven cars last year, which was the year after the comeback from Covid.

The route went west to Clonown to Ballydangan and Moore and into Shannonbridge, down towards Clonony Castle before stopping at Shannon Harbour

Connie’s son, Conor Hanniffy was driving a 1973 MGB GT car, which he said is lovely to drive.

“There’s a good mix of years of cars out there, from the 20s up to the 90s and plenty of them,” he said. “I have a bit of a passion for vintage cars. It’s a nice pastime, and the older you get the more you appreciate it than when you’re younger. It’s as expensive a hobby as you make it, depending on what type of car you have.”

The Vintage Car enthusiasts returned to the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in the late afternoon after their classic car run through the midlands.