Kilbeggan to host country's biggest American Auto Show this weekend

The biggest American car, truck, and bike show in Ireland returns to the Westmeath town of Kilbeggan on Sunday next, 24th April.

Every last weekend of April all manner of American vehicles descend on Kilbeggan for the annual celebration of American culture that is the Midland American Auto Club’s All-American Car Truck & Bike show.

Muscle cars will descend, Mustangs and Corvettes will fill the air with roaring V8 engines. Big flashy convertible Cadillacs and long Lincolns will cruise on in, Harleys will descend en-masse, Kenworths and Peterbilts will dwarf the local roads to put on a multi-coloured show of polished chrome and airbrushed paint. Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet pick up trucks will rumble through the country, all heading to Kilbeggan.

However this year there will be something special; something never seen before on Irish roads; a 100 foot long ‘turntable ladder’ American fire engine. This is one of those special fire engines with a 100 foot tall ladder that can reach up to tall buildings to help put fires out. At 56 foot it is so long it needs a second fireman driver in another cab at the back of the trailer unit to steer the rear wheels to get it through the streets.

This particular fire engine came from Long Island where it saw duty during 911.

“We thought we would honour all those who had left us during the last two years; through COVID and other reasons and honour all the tireless healthcare workers who have looked after everybody during the pandemic and continue to do so,” says Joe Keenan, the Midland American Auto Club chairman.

"We’re fortunate to have some vintage American fire engines and a good number of Sheriff and Police cars and tow trucks here in Ireland and will put on a fine sight when they are all lined up on display. The fire engines are amazing - painted the traditional red and white with lots of polished chrome & stainless steel, real gold leaf detailing and are complete with water pumps, red flashing and strobe lights, very loud sirens and a PA system.”

Instead of a minute’s silence, the club is planning a big ‘minute of sound’ at 3pm during the show – the fire engine and other emergency vehicle sirens will blast, everybody will be sounding their truck and car horns and revving their engines to remember those gone but not forgotten.

“Four years ago we started a ‘Show and Tell’, ” said Nick Stratta, the club's public relations officer. “Interviewing owners of these cars and trucks about their experience of owning and driving them. The first one we did was on the big rig 18- wheeler trucks. The show visitors loved it because it was informative and it brought alive owning and driving these amazing vehicles. This year we will focus on the American Emergency Vehicles and be interviewing a number of the owners. We will also have information boards so visitors can read about the detail of these vehicles.”

That is a very different show from cars just parked in a field, that’s for sure.

There will also be the usual autojumble – prospective traders should contact Joe Keenan.

Show admission is €10 per adult with free entry for children under 14. Show cars and occupants get in free too; the club doesn’t believe in charging exhibitors to come.

“They have spent enough on petrol or diesel to get here and they make the show so we welcome them all with open arms,” says Kieran Mullen, the club secretary.

The Midland American Auto Club (or MAAC for short) is the national American Car Truck and Bike club behind the now legendary Kilbeggan show in Ireland. The club has been running for over 20 years and attracts membership from whole island of Ireland and overseas. People come to Kilbeggan from all over the country for the biggest American show of the year at their showgrounds opposite Kilbeggan Racecourse in County Westmeath. It’s easy to find off the M4/M6 motorway – just follow the signs the Tullamore/ Kilbeggan exit, into the town square and right up the hill to the racecourse.

There’s something going on from 11am right up until 5.30pm on Sunday.

Check out past shows on the Midland American Auto Club’s You Tube channel.

More information is available through club website www.MAAC-Ireland.com or info@MAAC-Ireland.com , Facebook; www.facebook.com/midland.american.auto.club or from Joe Keenan, 087 238 8400, Kieran Mullen, 087 986 4199 or Nick Stratta, 085 828 9922. When calling from outside Ireland drop the zero and add 00 353 or +353.