Castlemaine once again the ‘rallying’ point for Mid Kerry Vintage
IT’S that time of year again when old machinery from the distant past gets dusted down, given a drop of oil, and brought to Brackhill, Castlemaine, to help raise funds for vital cancer support services in Kerry.
Sunday August 28 is the date for this year’s Mid Kerry Vintage Rally and Denis Tangney, Mike McKenna and Brendan Dennehy have been threshing their way through the busy workload involved in organising the event. Thousands of people passed through the gates last year helping to raise over €30,000 and there’s every indication this year’s Rally will draw even more people.
The Mid Kerry Vintage Rally is now one of the summer’s most popular days out and it’s easy to see why as not only does it cater for the committed machinery enthusiast, but also the curious observer interested in how farming was done prior to the advent of high powered machinery we all see whizzing by on country roads today.
It’s equally a great social and family day with no shortage of entertainment, music, food and a final ‘fun of the fair’ festive feel to help give summer a send-off. There’s a lot of work involved in staging such an event with large crowds and machinery travelling from all over Kerry and Munster to be in Castlemaine. But when it’s a labour of love, it makes the task seem that little bit easier as Denis Tangney explains:
“Serious work goes into this. Mike McKenna and I have travelled to every vintage rally in Munster and that’s how we get the support as each rally supports the other. We are at this vintage game all our lives and you build up a relationship over the years with other vintage enthusiasts. The year for us started on Easter Sunday at the first rally in Banna and we’ll be going until the end of October.
We have brilliant volunteers involved in the Mid Kerry Vintage Rally and without their dedication it wouldn’t happen. The Lord Mayor of Castlemaine, Mike Flynn, will open this year’s event, along with the Killorglin Pipe Band. Plenty of music and entertainment is a promise and everyone is welcome to come along on the day. They won’t be disappointed, that’s for sure.”