Veteran Vintage & Classic Car Club raises almost €2,000 for charity

THERE was an interesting re-union among the shining chrome and polished bonnets and wings just before the off at the Kingdom Veteran Vintage & Classic Car Club and Honda Bike annual Charity Run on Friday evening.

Mrs Bridget Jones from Glountane got a surprise when her daughter Mary brought her face-to-face with the 1971 VW Beetle – which was owned originally by her and her late husband Paddy in Glountane.

It is the car in which Bridget learned to drive in the early 1970s. The car, which was originally black is now restored to a dazzling white, is owned by Scartaglin native and Castleisland based taxi business owner, Willie O’Connell. The car was bought at Stanley Divane’s all those years ago and earlier this year, Mrs. Jones returned to buy her latest car there.

And, in another twist of that kind of fate, Willie also owns a VW Beetle which belonged to his late namesake and well known fiddle player, Willie O’Connell – and that too was part of Friday evening’s run.

There was a bigger turn-out than that of recent years as over 70 cars and 20 bikes gathered before the 7pm roll out on the spacious grounds of Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott.

The route took the group over a 30 mile course through: Ballycarthy Cross; Farranfore; Currow; Cordal; Castleisland and back to the finish at Ó Riada’s.

A total of €1,996.35 was raised on the night and all the proceeds went to the Downs Syndrome Ireland charity and the presentation was made as soon as the cavalcade of classics returned to Ó Riada’s.

Mrs Bridget Jones, Glountane met Willie O’Connell the current owner of the 1971 VW Beetle which was owned by her late husband, Paddy and in which she learned to drive at that time. They are pictured at the start of the Kingdom Veteran Vintage & Classic Car Club and Honda Charity Run at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant, Ballymacelligott on Friday evening.