Last Saturday morning, as they have done for 37 years, a fleet of vintage cars from the Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club set out from Athlone to tour various parts of the Midlands.

The rally, which was attended by numerous participants from Offaly and passed through several parts of the county, was hailed as another great success for the renowned car club.

Connie Hanniffy is the long-standing secretary of the Midland Vintage and Classic Car Club and explained the route the vintage cars would take on their scenic journey through the Midlands, passing by attractions such as Birr Castle’s gardens and science museum, including the great telescope built in 1845, the historic Clonony Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest inhabited castles, and visiting Cloghan, Banagher, Borrisokane and the Old Batteries in Athlone.

Among the group attending the rally were Heather and Roy Lowe, two loyal Athlone Rally fans who entered two cars. Heather drove a light grey 1969 Wolseley Hornet which she has owned for several years, while her husband Roy drove a red 1953 MG TD. “The Wolseley Hornet drives like a Mini, very similar and is actually a Mini with a boot,” said Roy. “We have had the other car, the red MG TD, for over twenty years.”

Of the 57 vintage cars entered for last week’s rally, the oldest, according to Connie Hanniffy, was a 1932 Wolseley Hornet Special. Its owner was a Castlebar native who took part in the first Midlands Vintage Rally in Athlone in 1987.

Connie had two cars in the Midlands Rally. She drove her own 1972 Rover P6 3500 V8 and her other car, a 1972 MGB, was driven by Simon Perry from Belmont, Co. Offaly.