Kildare's Mac and Norman Vintage Rally enjoys incredible success

THE Mac and Norman Vintage Rally marked its 23rd year with a turnout of vehicles that suggests, when everything is counted, approximately another €30,000 has been raised for the Irish Cancer Society. That amount is ten times more than what was collected at the inaugural rally over two decades ago.

"It has become an incredible event, and it all began in a conversation in a pub," recalls local man John Kennedy, who has been involved with the rally since the beginning, run under the names of neighbours Peter 'Mac' Sully and Norman Egar.

"We had been attending a vintage tractor ploughing event in Cooley, and a few nights later, we were talking about it in Markey's Pub. We said we should organise something with old tractors to raise funds for a charity. Then an advert for the Irish Cancer Society appeared on the pub's TV, and we decided it should be that. Five weeks later, we handed over a cheque to the ICS for €3,000."

By this year's event, €610,000 has been raised for the cancer support society. Even during the peak of COVID, a 'virtual' rally was held, which helped generate funds for the cause.

Starting from Mac Sully's yard in Cannycourt, the convoy of tractors, trucks, vintage cars, and motorbikes makes a circuit through Brannockstown and Kilcullen before returning to the starting point, where an afternoon of music and a charity auction takes place, with 117 items donated this year.

The number of participants is so extensive that it takes the rally thirty minutes to pass through Kilcullen.

Even before the dust settled, organisers had set the date for their 24th rally, scheduled for the 16th of August next year.