The Celtic Old Vehicle Owners Club, based in Kells Co. Meath, is now in its twenty third year and is probably the most active club outside of Dublin.
OUR MEMBERSHIP
The club caters for owners and enthusiasts of classic, vintage and veteran cars, vans, tractors, motor bikes and even a couple of fire engines. Its one hundred and fifty members are drawn from places as diverse as Tipperary, Enniskillen, Drogheda, Dublin, Kildare, Westmeath, Louth and Cavan as well as its core from all over Co. Meath.
OUR ACTIVITIES
Club Members are regulars at vintage shows and events all over the country and generally feature high amongst the prize winners. Every May Bank Holiday Weekend COVOC hosts the Norman Pratt Run, an enjoyable jaunt around Co. Meath, which has become so popular that entries have in recent years have had to be restricted. There are class awards for every decade and judging is by an independent external scrutineer. This event has raised a considerable amount of money for local charities such as Meath Hospice and The Heart and Stroke Foundation, among others, since its inception in 1992.
Its members are well travelled and can be found at English shows like Beaulieu, NEC, Stoneleigh and others, and some have travelled as far as the Essen Techno Classic, Stuttgart and Antwerp events. In the year 2000 the club went on a run to Yorkshire where we visited ‘Heartbeat’ country in a convoy of classic cars and in 2010 year we repeated the expedition on the June bank holiday weekend with 25 cars and well over 50 participants.
In addition to attending events around the country the club hold regular sunday runs on varied routes and these occur at least once a month throughout most of the year. There is also a monthly outing called the 'tickovers' which suits member who are free mid week for a rendezvous meal at an interesting venue. Each year there are a few weekends away for members to take their cars to hotel based locations to indulge their favourite passion and we frequently meet up with the local car club in the county that we visit.
Other activities include dinner dance, barbeques, sixties nights and various other excuses to get together.
OUR MONTHLY MEETING
The members meeting is held on the last Wednesday of each month in The Church Hall Kells at 8.30. It is a time for discussing events, parts problems and generally having a natter with like minded people, followed of course by our trademark homely cup of tea and sandwiches supplied voluntarily by a club member. Most meetings feature a speaker or video/picture demonstration and are usually attended by well more than half the members.
OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Midway through the month we send a newsletter with articles of technical nature, member’s cars features, dates of upcoming outings, reports of events and items for sale or to buy. It is eagerly awaited with anticipation to see whose car is featured or updates on events that we were particitating in or regretfully should not have missed.
REGALIA
Our trademark yellow and black is featured on various items. The bunting for carparking is probably the most instantly identifiable of any car club at static shows. Members can also purchase jackets, caps, sweaters, polo shirts, ties etc. to further add to the 'part of the club' feeling especially evident at shows such as Terenure, Trim, Kilbroney etc.
Another trademark of our club is at A.G.M. time when there are always more people wanting to go on the committee than are places available.
On the whole it is a great club of which to be a member.
The following committee was elected at The A.G.M. held on Sept 25th 2013 Chairman : Hugh Doyle Secretary : Kathleen Friel , Johnstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin. Treasurer : Sean Tully Vice Chairman :Paddy O'Rourke Newsletter : Paddy O'Rourke Membership Secretary : June MIller PRO : Donal O'Sullivan Regalia : Enda Reilly Committe Members: Brian Weldon, Pat Hanlon, Gerry Rathborne, Bernard McCormack ,Michael Allen
