A random story that occurred on a classic car run in Kerry on Sunday

A random story that happened today. On my way to the Ger Kennelly Classic Car run in North Kerry, I stopped off for petrol.

Several other classics were there too, but one caught my eye. It was a Citroen 2CV decked out in the official livery of the 2018 Tour de France, advertising that the town of Quimper was hosting a stage finish that year.

Now, I just so happened to be in the Quimper region during the 2018 Tour de France so wanted to know how such a car ended up in Kerry and possible local ownership.

I found the owners in the petrol station, and it turned out that it was a French couple on a tour of Ireland that owned the car. Now, in my pandemic learned French I was able to tell them I had spent time in their hometown and that I was on way my way to a classic car show and run about 10kms away.

I invited them to follow me, next thing they were in the car park of the Moyvane Community Hall registering for the run (fair play, the event organisers who did not charge them the entry fee and gave them a starter’s trophy).

A short time later they were participating in a road run with about 100 other classic cars from the area, along the coastal route by Ballylongford, Asdee and Ballybunniion before the finish in Lisselton.

Afterwards, they enjoyed a beer and conversation with all the other participants.

Their parting shots: “The views were incredible,” and “We must live life in the moment,” before departing for their Tarbert car ferry crossing much later than planned

Sean Moriarty

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