Cars and coffee on a bank Holiday

Gorey Cars & Coffee Bank holiday event

It was Bank holiday Monday on June 2nd, 2025.We had a busy weekend with visitors and so this morning I planned a more relaxed day. I started with a bit of weeding in the garden in addition to deadheading of some flowers. This was duly completed by mid-morning and so I decided to take a relaxed short walk around our block heading up towards the 1798 monument and joining the Paul Funge Boulevard.

As I turned left on to the Boulevard, I noted that the Tesco carpark was packed to capacity. This naturally whetted my curiosity, and I diverted in there for my stroll. I noted that the Gorey Cars & coffee Bank holiday event was taking place in full throttle with some revving up of engines. There were a few motor cyclists also revving around.

This was a car display by some enthusiasts showcasing some vintage treasured specimens of cars maintained in pristine condition in a labour of love. All the people I encountered viewing the cars were true car loving people. These cars were their pastime, their treasures trophy pieces taking pride of place at home.

As I walked along the lines of cars, my gaze was drawn to a 1950 Dublin registered Bentley which was gleaming in the Monday sunshine. This car was very eloquent looking with beautifully designed interior of leather and upholstery with a polished wooden dashboard. On the back seat I noted a lovely black lunch basket which added further eloquence to the immaculately clean interior.

I had to admire my first view of a nice green coloured Ford sporting a 67 WX registration plate with New Jersey, the garden state also displayed.

I met a very nice man driving a gleaming 1959 Wicklow registered lovely yellow Chevrolet which was in immaculate condition. It looked so good, and it was

 easy to imagine a cousin of it cruising across Route 66 America in the late sixties.

While I was admiring this car another man pointed out his 25-year-old Porsche to me. He has been living in Gorey for some years, and this has been his only car for the past 25 years. We spoke about the excellence of German engineering and how good the car was having been driven daily for all those years.

While progressing along I noted a 1980 Nevada, the silver state, registered bright yellow sports car sporting decorative black and red designs on the bonnet. This car looked very attractive and was perfectly maintained.

I was now lost in the memory of all the old cars I owned during my earthly existence when I was greeted by a past pupil I taught 50 years ago. We had a good chat about life and living and he showed me his Pandera, a Spanish sports car which he was so proud to display. He told me about the 600 euros it cost for each tyre. He just loved the car, and so did I. It was a classic little gem, and we took several photos and video clips of this classic in blue.

At another corner I admired an old orange coloured Ford Escort while nearby was an old Japanese registered white car which was also in pristine condition.

I just loved the relaxed nature of this interesting event which I strolled around with Local TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin chatting about cars, life and politics. We took lots of photos and video clips of this rare experience for both of us having chatted with several vintage car enthusiasts.

When I sat down to write a few lines about my day I was full of admiration for the enthusiasm, commitment, patience and craftmanship of those who restore vintage cars in any shape or form.

I noted a great comradery amongst all the enthusiasts, and they were very friendly and relaxed with visitors. When they were finished and had their teas and coffees, they headed for home to recharge their batteries for another day.

There was a great attendance at the show which was organised in the main by the positive influence of social media and word of mouth The weather gods were kind too which assisted greatly. Thanks to all who organised the day and all those who attended.

For me personally all the revving of engines and smell of exhaust fumes just propelled me down nostalgia road. Here we were today being given the opportunity to exist, albeit for a short period, in a living museum of some vintage gems of the motor industry.

Motor on.