When it comes to veteran and vintage car clubs, Co Cork has pole position in Ireland. Nowhere else has such enthusiasm for old cars and such a profusion of clubs, at least a dozen at the last count, all with regular meetings, rallies and runs and a strong social side.
A couple of reasons have been advanced for this. Billy Mulqueen, who runs Avondhu Limos at Ballyhooley, west of Fermoy, says the sheer size of the county means that enthusiasts from outlying parts of Cork have set up their own local clubs.
He also remarks that long before other parts of the country Cork had its merchant princes who were importing quality cars 70 and 80 years ago. Many of those cars still exist. John O'Toole, of the Irish Historic and Classic Car Association, backs this up by underlining the importance of the Ford connection. It helps ensure the greater appreciation of old cars in the county, he believes.
The most famous name in Cork club history is Vernon Mount, founded in 1938 and which embraced all branches of motor sport, including veteran and vintage. It was a successor to the Cork & District Light Car and Motor Cycle Club, which had been founded in the 1920s and which ran aground on the financial rocks of the Cork Grand Prix in the late 1930s.
Chris O'Mahony is the secretary and treasurer of the Munster Vintage Motorcyle & Car Club, which developed from Vernon Mount about 18 months ago. On Saturday the Munster club will be staging the Cork veteran run, which O'Mahony says has been going strong for over 50 years. Then from August 22nd to 27th, the Munster club will be staging the biggest event in its annual calendar, its vintage motorcycle rally in Co Kerry.
It's not just about old cars and bikes. Many clubs emphasise their rural roots by including tractors and other old farm- related equipment. Michael Lynch, secretary of the Muskerry Vintage & Veteran Car & Tractor Club based in Macroom, says that old tractors are just as much a part of their heritage as old cars. He points out that the annual Innishannon rally has a hybrid mix of steam traction engines and old cars and it's wildly popular.
The West Cork Vintage Club was founded over 15 years ago and had its first rally in 1989. The club is very active, with about 130 members, owning everything from Buicks to Rolls-Royces. It has two major events each year, including the vintage show day in Clonakilty which benefits local charities.
Albert Harte, chairman of the club, runs a motor business in Clonakilty. He's keen to see a car museum set up in the town, and towards this end, the club bought a car once owned by Jack Lynch. Harte adds that a member of the club has a motorcyle that allegedly belonged to Michael Collins - "but it's in bits."
While many of the newer clubs in the county are outside the Cork city area, one that's in Cork city is the Shandon Vintage Wheels Society, founded about 10 years ago. It has about 60 members, who between them own cars from the first decade of the 20th century up to the 1980s.
Another Co Cork club that's been going nearly a decade is the Duhallow club, based in Kanturk, north Co Cork. Next year, it's due to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Says club secretary David Collins: "We've about 50 to 60 members and a very full programme all year round, summer and winter." The youngest club is Charleville, set up three years ago to cater for enthusiasts in north Cork and south Limerick. Chairman Dominic Treacy says: "We've just over 100 members and it's taken off pretty well. We're getting new members at every meeting."
Denis Dowdall is the immediate past president of the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club, the umbrella organisation for about 35 clubs in all. Cork has just the right mix - plenty of enthusiasm, lots of events, great social activity and excellent rallying territory, not forgetting old Mr Ford. It's a potent recipe for old car enthusiasts, an area where it can be safely said that Cork does lead the country.