General

Limerick Motor Club has a number of perpetual trophies that are granted as the club wishes.

The Adare Cup

This cup was the first perpetual trophy used in an open event. The cup was presented by Viscount Adare in 1948 and was the Premier Award for the Lahinch Strand Races. this title was used by the heir apparent to the Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl. Richard Southwell Windham Robert Wyndham-Quin was Viscount Adare in 1948, he succeeded to the Earldom in 1952 on the death of his father. The first winner on Sunday August 8th 1948 was R B Le Fanu driving a self built car known as the LERA. As there were no further strand races run, the cup was awarded as the premier award for hill climbs from 1949. The was not awarded after 1969 as hill climbs were not organised from 1970 to 1999. The cup's location was unknown until 2023 when it was returned to the club by the 1969 winner Richie Heeley.

The Kemp Trophy

This cup has recently come back into the possession of the club. This trophy was presented to the club by Rickie Kemp founder member of the club on his departing Limerick.

From the Limerick Leader 22nd November 1948 "Mr. Kemp, the outgoing chairman, said he was really extremely sorry to be leaving Limerick in the near future. He had lived in various parts of the world but had found none so pleasant as the fair city of Limerick. He added that he intended presenting the Club with a perpetual challenge cup which will be competed for on a points system."

The cup was first presented 16th February 1949 to Dermod J O'Brien.

It was a championship award for closed club events, that is events that only be entered by club members.

The Limerick Motor Traders Cup 1949

 The cup was described in an Limerick Leader 11 June 1949 article about the first Circuit of Munster Trial as the Premier Award (Solid Silver Cup) presented by the Limerick Centre of the Irish Motor Traders Association. The names on the plaque do not correspond to the rally winners for 1966 and 1967

Fitzgerald Cup 1960

This is given as an end of year award. In the 1960s is was defined as an award for performance in open club events

President's Perpetual Trophy

 Award given at discretion of club president

The Billy Coleman Cup

Presented to the crew with best improvement on start seeding in the Circuit of Munster

The Pathfinder

This award is for club navigation trials, presented to the club by Tadhg Kearney Jewellers, Thomas St Limerick in 1982

The Brian Sparling Memorial Trophy

Brian Sparling was a director of Limerick Motor Club and his untimely death when competing in the 1983 Thomond Rally, meant the cancellation of the second day. Aged 54 years, he was a popular competitor often in a Mini. He was a garage proprietor in Croke, Co. Limerick.

The Piston

The Piston is presented to the club competitor who does best in a national championship. Pictured Paul O'Connell 2008 National Hillclimb champion receiving the award from Denis Hogan

The Pat Dowling Memorial Trophy

Donated by the family of Pat Dowling. It is given to best club codriver in the Circuit of Munster Rally. Pat was an in demand codriver for a number of drivers. He passed away suddenly 20 January 1999.

Marshal Trophy

Presented by Denis and Pat Hogan in 2002

Caplis Trophy

A club members award since 2006

The Tom White Memorial Award

This award was initially used for club members in forest rallies but in recent years has been given to best club member crew in the Circuit of Munster class 10. Tom died in 2007 after a long battle with injuries suffered in the 2006 Clare Stages Rally.

The Broken Wheel

 Given to a club member who has had a "calamity" for example a broken wheel

The Aquasleep Trophy This is an annual award

 The Aquasleep Trophy is given annually to best up and coming driver

The Condon Brothers Trophy This a Circuit of Munster award

The Ken Kennelly Memorial Trophy

Ken's widow Mary presenting the award at the 2016 Circuit of Munster. The trophy is based on a page of pace notes with Ken's hand written amendments. 

Research shows that other perpetual trophies were in use in the 1970s such as the Coleman Cup this was for the novice who improved best on seeding in the Circuit of Munster (2019 update the Coleman cup has been returned to the club). Also given as Circuit of Munster awards were the Elm Motors Cup for Best British Leyland (best FIAT in 1978 and 1979), the O'Callaghan cup for best VW to 1978 (Toyota from 1979) and the Bowmaker Trophy initially the winner of the Touring Circuit of Munster then for best non expert. Articles from 1978 and 1979 mention an Auto Save Perpetual Trophy for best Limerick Motor Club crew. Also from the 1979 article a best team Perpetual Shield is mentioned

An 1948 newspaper article mentions the Adare Perpetual Challenge Cup presented by Viscount Adare, the motorcycle event on same day was for the Victor Ross Cup. 1949 and 1956 reports mention the Adare Cup as the premier award for hillclimbs, it is also mentioned on the regulations for the 1962 Corkscrew hillclimb (2023 update Adare Cup returned to the club). Another award at hillclimbs in that period was the Imperial Hotel Trophy for best performance on handicap

There was also a Motor Cycle Traders Cup for the motorcycle section of the Circuit of Munster. Another motorcycle cup mentioned in a 1949 article about a hill climb was the O'Brien Cup, an O'Brien Perpetual Cup is mentioned as the Premier Award for the 1960 Circuit of Clare. Commandant J Dundon donated the Sarsfield Cup for motorcycle events.

Trophy Recipients

This list is generally taken from the name plaques on the trophies

The Adare Cup
1948 R B Le Fanu for the Lahinch Strand Races
1949 K P Murray 
1950 Joint A P McArthur and R Gallagher
1951 R Gallagher
1952 R Gallagher
1953 R Gallagher
1954
1955 L Earl
1956  W E T Bradshaw
1957 L P Beshoff
1958 Hector Graham, Cooper
1959 Hector Graham, Cooper
1960 W J Reid, Lotus Climax
1961 DPB McAllister, Cooper Climax
1962 DPB McAllister, Cooper Climax
1963 DPB McAllister, Cooper Climax
1964 ....... Records show Dave Poppelwell won 1964 Corkscrew
1965 ....... see below 
1966 F Keane  (records show F Keane won Corkscrew hill in 1965, 1966 Heely Pass was by Alec Poole)
1967 Joint B Cullen and R Heeley
1968 B Cullen
1969 R Heeley

The Kemp Cup
The first winner was Dermod J O'Brien
Connie Bourke won this trophy a number of times in the 1960s

Fitzgerald Cup 1960
1960 O O'Sullivan Volkswagen
1961 C O'Sullivan Volkswagen

1963 Paddy O'Callaghan Volkswagen
1964 Brian Cullen Austin Cooper
1965 Brian Cullen Triumph
1966 Connie Bourke Morris Cooper

1983 Connie Ward Austin Cooper S

1995 Liam Fitzgibbon Ford Escort
1996 Alan Shinnors Ford Escort
1997 Alan Leonard Sunbeam

2002 Mike Mulcahy Toyota Starlet
2003 Henry Nash Ford Escort
2004 Ciaran Fitzgerald Toyota Starlet

2006 Paul O'Connell BMW 325TDS

Brian Sparling Trophy
1984 Frank Meagher Cloneen
1985 Pat & Oliver Kiely Mallow 
1986 Peter Gallagher Peter Quinn Dublin

1988 Connie Linehan Rodney Mellor Vauxhall Nova
1989 Donal O'Donovan Pat Lordan Dunmanway Escort

1995 Pat Mulcahy Declan Murphy Samba

1997 Robert Clery Ger Ryan Vauxhall Nova

2001 No Rally
2002 Peter Cummins Sean Dillon
2003 Roland Doherty Sue Moloney
2004 Roland Doherty Sue Moloney
2005 Peter Cummins Sean Dillon

2007 Eamonn Barrett Finbar O'Mahoney
2008 Pat Ryan Sinead O'Keeffe

2010 Pat Ryan Jack D'alton
2011 Niall O'Connell Keith McCarthy Mini Cooper

2013 Eamonn Barrett Ken Kenneally
2014 Kenneth Ryan Tommy Commane Ford Escort
2015 Pat Ryan Jack Dalton

Pat Dowling Trophy
1999 Alan Leonard
2000 Sean Mullaly
2001 No Rally F&M
2002 Brendan Curtin
2003 Noel Hanley
2004 Ger Healy

2007 Kevin O'Connor
2008 Kaye Shanahan
2009 Ger Ryan
2010 Donal Dineen
2011 Ger Ryan
2012 Ger Ryan

2015 Donal Dineen

Caplis Limerick Motor Club Trophy
2006 Sean Kennedy John Caplis
2007 Anthony Collins Joe McCarthy
2008 Mark Sheahan
2009 Anthony Collins Donal Falvey
2010 J O'Connell Calvin Kirby
2011 Anthony Collins Donal Falvey

Tom White Memorial
2007 Dan Mulcahy D O'Callaghan
2008 Mark Sheahan Donacha O'Callaghan
2012 Susan & Victor Beamis
2013 Con Mulcahy John Nugent
2014 Niall O'Connell John Liston
2015 Con Mulcahy John Nugent

Marshal Trophy
This in an incomplete list of names from the trophy
2002 Shane O'Callaghan
2003 Peter Birrane
2004 Liam Ahern
2005 Willie Balfe
2006 James Balfe
2007 Kieran Ambrose
2008 Breda Ryan
2009
2010
2011
2012 Cathal Mansell
2013 Elaine Higgins
2014
2015 Joe O'Sullivan
2016 Brian O'Connell
2017 Tyrone Power

The Broken Wheel
2002 Alan Kane
2003 Gerry Keyes
2003 Pat Ryan
2006 Noelle Liston
2008 Mark Sheahan
...
2018 Gerry Lynch
2022 Christopher O'Callaghan

The Pathfinder
1982 Paddy McDonnell/James O'Doherty Note name as on trophy should be James Doherty
1988 John Carroll/Vincent Coughlan
1996 Gerard O'Connor/Ed O'Callaghan

The Billy Coleman Trophy
1975 Thomas Munnelly. Michael Reidy
1976 Jimmy Dee, Michael Liston
1977 D O'Brien, A O'Brien
1978 M Corkery, D Sullivan
1979 D Murrell, M Carthy
1980 Tony Hurley, Beth Hurley
1981 Martin Gallagher, John O'Keefe from Glanworth in an Escort 1.3 improved from 28th on seeding to 13th overall
1982 Patrick Doherty, Mary Doherty
1983 James C, John Lyons

Limerick Motor Club has organised Autocross events since the 1950s. Currently most club autocross events are loose surface in quarries although the club has had grass surface events in the past.

For next Autocross event see Calendar

History of Limerick Motor Club Autocross events

1972 in Ireland was a turbulent time. The situation in Northern Ireland led to the cancellation of the Circuit of Ireland for that year. Limerick took the opportunity to run a substitute event at Killarney.

The event was won by Cathal Curley in a BMW 2002 Alpina

Some period articles about the event

Preview

Build up to the event

Result and another result article

Click here for current Directors

Eamonn Barrett resigned 10 April 2024 after a period as Club Secretary

Secretary Keith McCarthy elected director 5 April 2017, elected secretary 1 March 2022, resigned 1 March 2023

Breeda Ryan Resigned 1 March 2023, Elected 7 March 2018, previously resigned 4 February 2015

Anthony Nestor Co-opted about March 2020 Retired 2 March 2022

Denis Dineen elected 2 March 2016 Retired 2 March 2022

Ger Healy Retired 11 July 2012. Re-elected 1 May 2019. Retired 1 March 2020 

 Bill Fitzgerald Retired 7 March 2018. Bill was club chairman for may years from the mid 1990s

Sean Moran Retired 7 March 2018

Henry Nash retired 5 October 2016

John O'Connor Jr retired October 2016

Edward O'Callaghan Retired 2 March 2016

Mary Fitzgerald Retired 2 March 2016. Mary served as Secretary for nearly 20 years from 1996

Shane O'Callaghan Retired 2 March 2016. Shane had a short spell as Secretary in 1995

Ger Cusack Retired at 5 February 2014

Paul O'Connell Retired at 5 February 2014

Gerard O'Connor. Retired 6 February 2013

Liam Aherne Retired 11 July 2012

Dan Mulcahy Retired 6 April 2011

Dave Dooley Retired 6 April 2011

Denis Hogan RIP Retired 4 February 2009

Gerry Keyes Retired 4 February 2009

Some directors from the 1990s and 2000s

Photo taken at the 1998 50th anniversary dinner

Pat Dowling RIP
Anthony Nestor
Jennifer Shorten
Niall Shorten
Sean Mullally
Sebastian Stacpoole
Eoin Noonan was club chairman during this time.
Aidan Hanley

8 April 1991 The current  business entity Limerick City and County Motor Club Ltd. that trades as Limerick Motor Club was formed 8 April 1991, the first directors of that company were

Finbarr (Barry) Tobin
Harry (Hal) Lewis
Patrick (Paddy) Powell (Paddy was club secretary for a number of years)
John Walsh
Patrick Canny
Patrick (Paddy) McDonnell
James O'Mahoney

6 November 1990 The Limerick Motor Club Limited dissolved

October 1986
Chairman Hal Lewis, Secretary Bernard Kelly, Treasurer Barry Tobin
Paddy Powell, John Walsh (Chairman 1980 to c1982),Niall Mullane, Kieran Hogan, Kieran Ronan, James Doherty, James O'Mahoney, Denis Collins, Pat Gleeson, John Barry

28 February 1984 Directors after AGM
Chairman Pat Gleeson,Treasurer Pat Neville, Secretary Pat Geaney, President Stan Russell
James Doherty, ,Denis Collins, John O'Leary, Pat Canny, James Sparling, John Barry, Bernard Kelly, Paddy Kennedy, James O'Mahoney, Connie Ward, Ted Jennings

Photograph of directors from January 1983 Newsletter
Back row James O'Mahoney, Pat Canny, Joe Keane, Tom Cooney, Bill Hickey, Evan Conroy, Michael Naughton, Pat Neville, James Doherty
Front Row Stan Russell, Pat Gleeson, Hal Lewis,Brian Sparling, Denis Collins
Missing from this photograph was John O'Leary

Other directors in the 1980s Frank Keohane

1970s
Sean Cox (Chairman 1973 to 1976), John Leonard (Secretary in the mid 1970s), Connie Bourke, Shaun Wall, Donal Griffin (Chairman 1979), Hal Lewis (Chairman 1977,1978), Michael McKenna (chairman 1972) 

1978 Paddy McDonnell Secretary 

1974 photo

Print of photo  (from Stan Russell collection) published in the Limerick Leader June 1973 after the 25th anniversary dinner dance. Captioned as "Founder members of Limerick Motor Club - Back row: H. Newenham, G. Newenham,N. Thomson, S. Russell, V. Baker, J. Garry. Front row: N Cussen, D O'Brian, Mrs C. Fitzgerald, Mayor P. Kiely, C. McNamara." Guest of honour Patrick (Paddy) Kiely was mayor of Limerick 5 July 1972 to 6 July 1973.

1966 Chairman Brian Geary, Secretary John Lane, Treasurer Brian F Cullen (son of Fred Cullen a former chairman of the club)

1963 Michael J Harkin was director and assistant treasurer

March 1959 Messrs Flynn, Leonard, Kinlay and O'Sullivan welcomed to the committee. Don Gray Hon Secretary

1956 Brian Geary replaced Paddy Fogarty as Hon. Secretary of the club

This newspaper cutting is undated but the committee membership suggests mid 1950s

21 January 1955 Extraordinary General Meeting to announce that club was now a limited company Officers Elected
Chairman Mr George Newenham (also chairman 1959, 1960)
Hon. Secretary Mr Paddy Fogarty (also secretary 1957)
Hon. Treasurer Mrs Claire Fitzgerald
Other Directors Messrs Val Baker, Guy Baker, Phil Heelan, P.J. Morrissey, "Bobby" Blake and Dr B Blake

15 November 1954 Incorporated as The Limerick Motor Club Limited
Chairman Frederick Cullen
Hon Secretary Michael Gerard Liston
Hon Treasurer Edward William Anthony Cussen
Richard Joseph Nash,
George Alexander Newenham
John Noel Thompson
Joseph Desmond Patrick Garry
Hector Myles Newenham
Sean Norman Fitzgerald (chairman 1963 to 1965)
Asst Hon Sec Nevitt Patrick Day Fogarty

Witness to above Signatures Michael O'B Kelly, Solicitor, 98 O'Connell Street, Limerick

5 December 1952 Officers Elected for 1953
President His Lordship the Earl of Dunraven CB CBE MC 
Vice Presidents His Worship the Mayor Limerick Alderman J Carew TD, President Chamber of Commerce Mr V Frazer-Ross, Dublin, Mr D A Scannell Secretary British Racing Drivers Association
Chairman Mr F Cullen
Hon Treasurer Mr N Thompson
Hon Secretary Mr M J O'Connor
Competition Secretary Mr J D Garry
Committee Messrs R J Nash, P J Morrissey, E Cussen, G Mills, P Fogarty, D K Waterstone, and R McKay
At this meeting it was agreed for brevity to change the name from "Limerick Light Car and Motor Cycle Club" to "The Limerick Motor Club"

1952 Vice Chairman Victor F Ross  Club President Richard Nash

Standing L-R P Heelan, S Russell, S Fitzgerald, J Eades, J Garry, R Holiday
Sitting L-R Derry O'Brien, Rickie Kemp, M O'Connor
The caption for this photo does not say committee but all except R Holiday have been confirmed as early committee members

November 1948 The annual general meeting elected officers. It was stated that the club had 56 members
President Viscount Adare
Vice Presidents DJ Scannell (London), V Frazer Ross (Dublin) and DJ O'Brien (Limerick)
Chairman Commdt J Dundon
Hon Secretary M O'Connor
Hon Treasurer JR Eades
Committee S Russell, S Fitzgerald, F Cullen, A O'Brien, JH Eades, _ Heelan, P Phillips
Delegates to the RIAC DJ O'Brien and VF Ross
Delegates to the MCUI S Russell, S Fitzgerald
Social Secretary J Garry

1948 The first general meeting of the Limerick Light Car and Motor Cycle Club was held 21 May 1948 
Committee members appointed were
Mr. R I C Kemp Chair
Mr. D J O'Brien Hon. Secretary
Mr. J D Connolly Hon. Treasurer
Comdt Dundon Hon Competitions Secretary
Mr S Fitzgerald Hon Competitions Secretary
Mr S Russell Hon Competitions Secretary
Mr A O'Brien
Mr J R Eades
Mr G Leask
Mr G Bennett
Mr D O'Grady
Article from Limerick Leader

Archive of articles published on this website since 2008.

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