 |
|
|
Press RELEASES
4th May 2010
3rd August 2009
23 july 2009
20 July 2009
5 July 2009
5 August 2008
21 July 2008
Press Releases 2009
Record number of steam engines to be at 45th National Stradbally Steam Rally 23rd July 2009
Premier event in the calendar of steam and vintage shows in Ireland Issued on Thursday 23rd July 2009. Well over 32 working steam engines are expected at the National Steam Rally in Stradbally, County Laois on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd August 2009.
Secretary and PRO for the steam rally, Ms Pauline Madigan said that this is more than has been seen in about seven years at the rally. 'We look forward to welcoming families from all over Ireland at the premier event in the calendar of steam and vintage shows throughout Ireland, next weekend' said Ms Madigan.
Engines that will be exhibiting for the first time at Stradbally include a ‘Rumely’ - an American Prairie Engine as well as a ‘George White’ – the Only Canadian made steam engine in Ireland. The latter is owned by Tom Tynan, Tullow, County Carlow.
Steam enthusiasts will also be eager to see how the Glynns of Carlow are getting on with the Burrell Steam Engine, which was originally built in 1917. It is currently being restored by the Glynns of Carlow. The engine was used for steaming mild bottles by the Midland Dairies in Ballon, County Carlow.
 |
|
|
Another interesting steam engine will be the ‘coffee pot roller’ which will be on display in Stradbally for the first time ever. It’s an ‘Aveling and Porter’. It was built in 1925 and only restored this year.
For those who want to see the vintage tractors, some interesting ones include a 1947 Ferguson Volt TVO. It was restored to its original condition in 2009. Another tractor at the rally will be a 1958 Massey Ferguson –with plough: This exhibit is coming in from Manchester especially for the rally. It was recovered from hedgegrow outside Manchester. Won 1st prize in rally in Chelford Chesire 2009. Plough was found in hedgegrow outside Birmingham and was sandblasted and restored.
Mr. Dick Dunne, Chaiperson of the National Steam Rally committee commented:
'The committee members are working round the clock in
order to ensure that no stone is left unturned in making this rally one of
the best yet. The Stradbally National Steam Rally has undoubtedly now become
the premier event in the calendar of steam and vintage shows in Ireland.
Of course the rally will never be the same again without the presence of
former President of the Irish Steam Preservation Society, Mr. Osmond (Ossie)
Bennett. He will be missed very much this year and in years to come. Others
that have sadly passed away far too young this year and were very avid supporters
of the rally include David Sixsmith as well as Marian Rochford. Our sincere
sympathies to their family and friends’, said Dick Dunne.
 |
|
|
Mr. Ken Graham, President of the Irish Steam Preservation
Society commented:
‘The ethos of the Irish Steam Preservation Society is for the preservation
and posterity of all kinds of machines using steam as its motion power.
It is bringing the past to the future by remembering steam engines with
all their nostalgic glory. This is why many of those present at the rally
are second and third generations of the same families’, Mr Graham concluded.
It is also hoped that the steam train will be back in action after being repaired for the past six years. At time of going to print, final clearance is still needed by the Railway Safety Commission, but the rally committee are quietly confident that everything will go according to plan. Clifton Flewitt, Acting Secretary of the Irish Steam Preservation Society and railway supervisor, who celebrates 40 years involved with the Irish Steam Preservation Society and the Stradbally Steam rally, has with his team of voluntary railway crew have been working round the clock to ensure all goes according to plan at the longest established Heritage railway in Ireland.
Numerous family events will be held over the August bank holiday weekend at this event including a carnival, sheep dog demonstrations, army tanks and a train which will be giving rides through the woodlands of the Cosby estate. Steam threshing, stone crushing and sawing timber will also be part of the fun.
A free car park and picnic area also available to all attendees over the two day event.
For further information, see www.irishsteam.ie
For further information and/or pictures, please contact:
Pauline
Madigan,
087-9984574
Editor’s Note:- History of Stradbally Steam Rally: The first Rally held in Stradbally was on a very cold Monday, 27th December, 1965. 5 Laois steam enthusiasts were on their way home from a rally in England when they decided that it was about time an event like this was held in Ireland. These five men were: Ben Farrelly, Harold Condell, Stan Mason, Ron Bramley and Colonel Kidd.
Five engines supported by 1 Fordson tractor and cars gathered at the Market House, Stradbally. A reported 3000 or so spectators turned up for the occasion which was judged to be a huge success. It was decided to repeat the rally on the following August bank holiday in the grounds of Stradbally (Cosby) Hall. It has been an annual event there ever since with an increasing number of attendees (approximately 30,000 attend now every year).
There are now just three remaining committee members alive who attended on that day in 1965. These are: Mr. Ron Bramley, Mr Mervyn Graham and President of the Irish Steam Preservation Society, Mr. Ken Graham. Mr. Osmond Bennett passed away this year in March 2009. He was aged 93
...............................................................................................................................................................................
Record number of steam engines to be at 45th National Stradbally Steam Rally 20th July 2009
Issued on Monday 20th July 2009
The official launch of the 45th National Steam Rally in Stradbally, County Laois took place in Dublin today, with the oldest registered car in Ireland. The Steam Rally, whose ethos is all about ‘remembering things from the past for our future’, will be held on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd August 2009. Steam enthusiasts and families from all over Ireland are expected at the premier event in the calendar of steam and vintage shows throughout Ireland. Engines that will be exhibiting for the first time at Stradbally include a ‘Rumely’ - an American Prairie Engine as well as a ‘George White’ – the Only Canadian made steam engine in Ireland. The latter is owned by Tom Tynan, Tullow, County Carlow.
Steam enthusiasts will also be eager to see how the Glynns of Carlow are getting on with the Burrell Steam Engine, which was originally built in 1917. It is currently being restored by the Glynns of Carlow. The engine was used for steaming mild bottles by the Midland Dairies in Ballon, County Carlow. Another interesting steam engine will be the ‘coffee pot roller’ which will be on display in Stradbally for the first time ever. It’s an ‘Aveling and Porter’. It was built in 1925 and only restored this year.
For those who want to see the vintage tractors, some interesting ones include a 1947 Ferguson Volt TVO. It was restored to its original condition in 2009. Another tractor at the rally will be a 1958 Massey Ferguson –with plough: This exhibit is coming in from Manchester especially for the rally. It was recovered from hedgegrow outside Manchester. Won 1st prize in rally in Chelford Chesire 2009. Plough was found in hedgegrow outside Birmingham and was sandblasted and restored.
Mr. Dick Dunne, Chaiperson of the National Steam Rally
committee commented:
'The committee members are working round the clock
in order to ensure that no stone is left unturned in making this rally
one of the best yet. The Stradbally National Steam Rally has undoubtedly
now become the premier event in the calendar of steam and vintage shows
in Ireland. Of course the rally will never be the same again without the
presence of former President of the Irish Steam Preservation Society, Mr.
Osmond (Ossie) Bennett. He will be missed very much this year and in years
to Contd…/
Contd from previous page///
come. Others that have sadly passed away far too young this year and
were very avid supporters of the rally include David Sixsmith as well as
Marian Rochford. Our sincere sympathies to their family and friends’, said Dick
Dunne.
Mr. Ken Graham, President of the Irish Steam Preservation
Society commented:
‘The ethos of the Irish Steam Preservation Society is for the
preservation and posterity of all kinds of machines using steam as its motion
power. It is bringing the past to the future by remembering steam engines
with all their nostalgic glory. This is why many of those present at the
rally are second and third generations of the same families’, Mr Graham
concluded.
Numerous family events will be held over the August bank holiday weekend at this event including a carnival, sheep dog demonstrations, army tanks and a train which will be giving rides through the woodlands of the Cosby estate. Steam threshing, stone crushing and sawing timber will also be part of the fun.
A free car park and picnic area also available to all attendees over the two day event.
For further information, see www.irishsteam.ie
For further information and/or pictures, please contact:
Pauline Madigan,
087-9984574
Editor’s Note:- History of Stradbally Steam Rally: The first Rally held in Stradbally was on a very cold Monday, 27th December, 1965. 5 Laois steam enthusiasts were on their way home from a rally in England when they decided that it was about time an event like this was held in Ireland. These five men were: Ben Farrelly, Harold Condell, Stan Mason, Ron Bramley and Colonel Kidd.
Five engines supported by 1 Fordson tractor and cars gathered at the Market House, Stradbally. A reported 3000 or so spectators turned up for the occasion which was judged to be a huge success. It was decided to repeat the rally on the following August bank holiday in the grounds of Stradbally (Cosby) Hall. It has been an annual event there ever since with an increasing number of attendees (approximately 30,000 attend now every year).
There are now just three remaining committee members alive who attended on that day in 1965. These are: Mr. Ron Bramley, Mr Mervyn Graham and President of the Irish Steam Preservation Society, Mr. Ken Graham. Mr. Osmond Bennett passed away this year in March 2009. He was aged 93
...............................................................................................................................................................................
Steam Rally committee make a call for nostalgic exhibits at 2009 National Steam Rally- 5th July 2009
Issued 5 July 2008.
The committee members of the National Stradbally Steam Rally are in the throes of organizing yet another great event which will be held in Stradbally on the Sunday and Monday of the bank holiday August weekend.
Mr. Ken Graham, President of the Irish Steam Preservation
Society commented:
‘The ethos of the Irish Steam Preservation Society is for the preservation and posterity of all kinds of machines using steam as its motion power. I am always stressing that the children of today are tomorrow’s future and it is they who will continue to keep alive the Irish Steam Preservation Society’.
Dick Dunne, Chairman of the Steam Rally Committee says that the committee and local voluntary groups are already working full ‘steam ahead’ making sure that the event will run as smoothly as ever. ‘Our committee are now meeting on a weekly basis ensuring no stone is left unturned in preparing a great weekend in Stradbally for local, national and international visitors’, said Mr. Dunne.
The theme for this year is to be the ‘preservation of things from the past’, so the committee are looking for local people to showcase their talents to visitors at the show.
Secretary/PRO, Ms Pauline Madigan, would like to hear from anyone that either churns butter, tells stories, sews, knits, bakes – basically anything that one does not – some might say unfortunately – see anymore. Said Ms Madigan: ‘It is hoped that we will have a special nostalgic tent, where visitors to the steam rally can walk in and see a showcase of talents that our past generations remember with fondness and can ensure they are seen by the children of tomorrow’.
Anybody interested in exhibiting/showcasing their wares, can contact the
secretary/PRO at 086-3890184.
For further information and/or pictures, please
contact: Pauline Madigan, 087-9984574 or 086-3890184