Brief History of Blessington Vintage Car and Motor Cycle Club

Blessington VCC has been in existence since 1985. Early in that year a committee was formed in Blessington to organise events to celebrate the tercentenary of Blessington village. I was approached by a member of that committee and asked to organise a vintage car run in conjunction with the festivities. A meeting was arranged with Tony Clarke, Noel Hughes and the late Dessie Cullen (like-minded “motor heads”). Some time later, at an informal meeting, it was suggested that we should form a club of our own. Hey presto! The seeds were sown. From that humble beginning we now have what is known as Blessington Vintage Car and Motor Cycle Club. Since 1985 membership of the club has grown steadily and we now have a membership of approximately 200. Not much is known about the early origins of Blessington village. Archbishop Boyle, who was then the Archbishop of Dublin, was given the lands in 1652. He laid out the one street village and built St. Mary’s Church in 1683. The church tower houses the oldest public bell in Ireland. Before the village was given to him it was known as Cross of Ballycomyn. It still retains the name today in the gaelic form — Cross Baile Coimin. At the time of the formation of the club in 1985 Blessington was a town of 1500 people. Today (2006) the population has reached approximately 6000.

WILLIE NASH (Chairperson 2006)

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2010:

Chairperson: Tony Clarke, Vice Chairperson: Pat Callaghan, Secretary: Brian Dempsey, Treasurer: Colin Dunne

Other Committee Members:

Bob Webster, Michael Darcy, Willie Nash, Keith Pearson, Pat Denning, Harry Cole, Alice Nugent, Brian Cosgrave