July 2010
July 2010 Monthly Meeting Minutes:
1) Terenure Classic Car Show; Discussed all aspects of the show, especially our 'Stand' and next year's show.2) A very big 'Thank you' to John & Miriam for the excellent meal & hospitality at their house the evening before the show.3) Congratulations to Barry Graham whose XK-120 won the new 'Jaguar of the show' award at Terenure.4) A big 'Thank You' to the JAGUAR HERITAGE TRUST for bringing over the actual XF car that did 225 mph.on the 'Salt Flats' in America for display on our stand at Terenure. (They also brought over the James Bond XKR, which was on display at the I.J.D.C. stand.) Our thanks too, also to Rodger & Stuart of the J.H.T. who accompanied the car for all their work and good company during the weekend.5) Discussion on the monthly meeting venue and possible others.6) Discussion on club Classic Car Insurance. To be investigated further.
Extended Report from Emo Court Trip.
On Saturday 7th August we went to Emo Court in Co. Laois, this impressive neo classical period house once the home of the Earl of Portarlington and family home of the Dawson Damer’s of which Dawson Street in Dublin is named after. Now the property of the Irish State having been given to them by the last owner Cholmeley Harrison. The house and approximately 270 acres are now in the care of the Office of Public Works.
You could not fail to be impressed with this fine stately home designed by the famous architect James Gandon who was responsible for many fine buildings in Dublin including the Customs House and the Four Courts. From 1930 to 1969 the house was owned by the Jesuit Order of Priests and was used as a seminary. The Jesuits made a number of changes to its interior to suit their requirements. However, it must be said that had they not purchased it, it would most likely have fallen into disrepair as so many of the large houses did at that time. When the house was purchased by Cholmeley Harrison in 1969 for what is reputed to be £42,000 he carried out extensive restoration and returned the house to its former glory.
After what was an excellent tour of the house by our guide Ruari we had lunch in the adjoining tea rooms, even this area had its history: these rooms were formerly the bedroom and studio of Fr. Brown whose photography and photographic publications have been of great benefit to researchers, his photographs of the Titanic being but one example. Ironically Fr. Brown was given a passage to sail on the Titanic but his Bishop would not allow him to travel. Following a walk around the gardens we headed off.
We drove to our hotel in Naas on part of the Gordon Bennett route and arrived at The Killashee House Hotel around 5pm. The hotel was lovely and we had a very enjoyable dinner that evening. Relaxed and refreshed the following morning we drove the route of the 1903 Gordon Bennett race and had some photographs taken at the start/finish section. This historic motor race took place here in 1903 and was held in Ireland because Britain won the 1902 race, so unexpected was that victory and so strong the establishment’s opposition to motor racing in Britain there was no hope of the race being staged there so a number of enthusiastic motorists seized upon the opportunity to unite all shades of political and public opinion and so the race was held in Ireland.
The race was to be an international closed circuit competition remembering the speed limit in Britain at that time was 12 miles per hour and in order to have the race in Ireland it required an act of parliament to be passed and this was done successfully. The teams included four countries, France, United States, Germany and Britain. The cars were painted in their national colours: France in blue, USA in red, Germany in white and because of Ireland’s role in organising the race Britain chose emerald green, this colour later became known as British Racing Green. The distance was 327.5 miles, three laps of the eastern circuit and four of the western circuit.
Many thousands of people came to see the race and 1500 cars came by boat to tour the country. This was the first opportunity many Irish people had to see a motor car. The event was highly successful and a German named Camille Jenatzy driving a Mercedes won in a time of six hours and thirty nine minutes with an average speed of 49.2 miles per hour. France took second, third and fourth place and Britain’s Selwyn F Edge driving a Napier came in at nine hours and twenty eight minutes but was later disqualified. Selwyn Edge was the winner of the 1902 race and was responsible as a result of his success for the race to be held in Ireland.
Gordon Bennett was himself an American and the son of a wealthy media baron who lived for a lot of his life in Paris where he had been educated. The first race in his name was held in 1900. Bennett was also involved in Balloon and Aviation activities as well as of course sponsoring Henry Stanley’s expedition into Africa to find David Livingstone and the ill-fated expedition of De Long to the Artic. Bennett died in 1918 having reputedly spent forty million.
We drove back through the Curragh Military Base and on to Newbridge Silver where we had a light lunch and visited the Style Icons Museum at Newbridge Silverware.
We headed off about 3.30pm, it was a most enjoyable weekend and sincere thanks to Barrie Graham who unfortunately could not join us as he himself and Noelle were on holidays in his native Scotland and to John O’Driscoll for all the help and organisation and thank you to everyone for attending.
John F Sheehan
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