Late chairperson of Knockdown Vintage Club set to be remembered at memorial vintage run
THIS year’s edition of the annual Knockdown Vintage Club Run will be tinged with great sadness following the untimely and sudden loss of group’s esteemed founder and Chairperson, Patrick Langan, in December of last year.
Even more poignant, Patrick had already laid the foundation for this year’s run – which is set to take place on Sunday, March 24 – and had been working on it in earnest in the weeks leading up to his passing. It’s only fitting therefore that the club has decided that this year’s event be dedicated to his memory.
It was back in 2010, in a corner of the Knockdown Arms, that Patrick, with the help of Dave Noonan, hatched up a plan and from it followed the birth of Knockdown Vintage Club. The first event was held that very year and became the blueprint for what was to follow.
With years of evidence to look back on, it’s a safe bet to say that the events since that inaugural event have an outstanding success. It has grown and developed over the years to be one of the best vintage runs of its kind in the country and this achievement, the Knockdown group said this week, is due in no small way to the passion and expertise that Patrick showed for his love of this event.
Speaking to The Kerryman about this year’s event and the late, great, Patrick, Dave Noonan from the club had the following to say:
“He’ll be greatly missed. We started the club out about 14 years ago now and he was main man behind it all and over the years, his family have gotten involved more and more especially as the younger generation have gotten older. They always say that the man above will look after us so hopefully he will,” said Dave.
This year the proceeds of the event will go to two very worthy charities: the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation UHL and the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland (Mid-West Branch).
Both charities offer vital services to our community and are well deserving of our support. These charities have impacted on the lives of many families in the community and further afield and the club said this week that it is their privilege to assist them in their endeavours.
Registration for the even will commence at 12pm in The Knockdown Arms on March 24 with light refreshments to be served from that time on as well.
All vintage cars and vintage vehicles are welcome on the day while following the event, there will be a get together afterwards in the Knockdown Arms where a raffle will also be taking place.
Since 2010 the club has raised in excess of €60,000 for various charities and they said this week that this could not have been done without the help of all their sponsors, participants and the general public.
Donations can also be made on the group’s GoFundMe page.