Liam Kelly Run 2018

All roads led to The Grove Bar Kilpedder on Saturday 8th September for the very prestigious Garden of Ireland Vintage Car Clubs Annual Liam Kelly Memorial Run now in its 9th year. This event has become one of the major vintage car events of the year with an entry of over 90 vintage vehicles of all ages, shapes and sizes and from all corners of the country and the UK participating. The weekend kicked off with a welcoming party held in The Grove Bar on Friday 7th and was well attended by both visitors and members alike. Saturday morning saw all of the vehicles converge on the Grove Bar which this year was the starting point. Having completed registrations the participants lead by The outriders with Liam Kelly’s 1914 Model T leading the cars. We had to change the original route due to a bereavement in Kilmaconogue, thus heading up Altidore which is a trial for any car let alone a Model T and then onto The Wicklow Gap road to Turlough Hill Power Station where they were welcomed by Simon Carroll and his co-workers who treated us to a tour of the facility and also provided with plenty of refreshments. The tour proved to be of extreme interest to all. Construction on Turlough hill began in 1968 and was one of the largest civil engineering ever undertaken in Ireland.. As this is an area of outstanding natural beauty a massive underground chamber was carved in the granite mountain to house the main station so that it would be hidden from view. 2.5 million tonnes was excavated in order to build the upper lake then lining it with aspaltic concrete. The upper reservoir is an artificial lake. Water flows down the pressure tunnel and then through the station and the generation turbines to produce electricity. The lower reservoir is called Lough Nahahagan. The water from the upper reservoir ends up here after moving through the station generators. The water is then pumped back up to the upper reservoir using a reversible turbine ready to be reused when needed. It was then off to Lynhams of Laragh for lunch and a chat before returning to The Grove Bar for the presentations via the beautiful Glemacnass Waterfall, The Sally Gap and Lough Tay passing Luggala House. The evening ended with a very successful dinner dance and presentation of prizes which was held in The Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy.

We held a raffle in aid of The Blood Bikers East and we would like to thank everyone who provided prizes.
The presentations were made to Tommy O’Sullivan for car of the show with his 1949 Triumph 2000.

Other presentations were made to Fergall Rossiter with his Ford Granada and David Brennan with his Citroen Avant.

The E.S.B. presented two prizes to Franco Bove with his 190 Sl Mercedes and to Mick Nolan with his Deleorean. Theses were presented by Simon Carroll from the E.S.B.

The very popular Poker Run took place on Sunday and was yet again very well attended. The first prize of €150 was won by Pete Brady, the second prize of €100 was won by Mick Nolan and third prize was won by June Kelly.

A very special thank you must go to Pat Moran and The North Wicklow Motor Cyclists Enthusiasts for guiding us safely throughout the day, Mick Brennan and Co. for providing entertainment on the Friday night, the staff of Lynams Hotel in Laragh, Dinny Doyle for the use of The Grove Bar, Brian Nolan for supplying music on the day, The Parkview Hotel, The Staff and management of The E.S.B. at Turlough Hill, Shay Duffy for providing breakdown assistance and everybody who helped in any way on the day.

Our sincere thanks to Barrett Private Insurances and Kelly Recovery for their continued support,