Newry And District Old Vehicle Club

Over the following decade its members attended many car shows and exhibitions all over Ireland. They also played a major part in the Newry Canal Festival with almost one hundred vintage and classic cars taking part in the opening parade.

At a club meeting in January 1985 the club secretary Mr John Fox questioned the then club chairman Mr Sean Brannigan about whether the club should organise an event to commemorate the centenary of the motor car. After some debate as to whether the first car was invented in 1885 or 1886 it was decided that as Carl Freidrich Benz tried and tested the first prototype in 1885, they would duly celebrate the centenary in 1985.

A location for the event then had to be decided upon and where else but the beautifully scenic Kilbroney Park would provide such a fantastic backdrop. Shell U.K. Ltd provided sponsorship for the event (and for many years later) and with Council backing, organisation for the event got underway.

Nearly all of the local motor traders supported the show and indeed set up trade stands at the event. Despite the fact that it was an entirely new event, interest was high and entry forms came flooding in. On the day almost one thousand vehicles made their way to Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor and over ten thousand people attended the event. For what was planned to be a one-off event, it was so successful that the tradition continued to the present day.

For several years the Newry Club organised the annual vintage show with interest maintaining its unexpected high level. Then in 1990 a new club called the Kilbroney 90 took over the running of the show and in turn increased its numbers and added new attractions to the already popular show. After a few years they moved their show to Donard Park in Newcastle. A new local club Newry and Mourne Classic Vehicle Club had since been formed and had approximately 60 members.

In 1997 the club was contacted by local Rathfriland Councillor and motorbike enthusiast Mr Gordon Heslip to see if the club would merge with Newry & Mourne Council and the Association of Old Vehicles Clubs N.I. to organise a new show in Kilbroney Park. A meeting was called and Mr Raymond Turley, who had been a great support to the club from its beginnings in his role on behalf of the Council, named the new show Kilbroney 2000.

To this day the Kilbroney Show has been attracting huge crowds year after year. Whilst the organisers have changed many times and there have been more than a few wet days, with the enthusiasm of the organisers and the backing of local businesses the event is still as popular as ever.

Whether your interest lies with Deloreans, Ferraris, Starsky and Hutch cars or old time American police cars, there is something for the entire family.

This years event takes place on Saturday 18th June 2011. It opens at 10:00 a.m. and continues all day until 6:00pm. Up to 1000 old vehicles are expected to be on display along with threshing machines, farm machinery and other old time attractions.

There will also be trade stands, autojumblers, childrens entertainment, funfair, amusements and live music, a perfect mixture for a fun family day out.