The Castle Automobile Club was formed in 1985 by five people Tommy Curran, John Wood R.I.P,  Breen McNamee, Maureen Curran and John Smith.

Their aim was to provide the rally enthusiasts of Oldcastle and it locality with local events. All had been actively involved in the sport either through administration, competition or both. Many meetings took place to discuss the proposed formation and how best it would function. Rallying  was always popular in Oldcastle having played host initially to the Baileborough and then the Co. Cavan Motor Club for more than a decade. Most disciplines from multi-stage tarmac rallies, forestry stages events, grass surface autocross, night navigation, sprints and hill climbs had been promoted successfully over this period.

Regionally the club would concentrate on promotions in the counties of Meath and Westmeath. Affiliation to the Royal Irish Automobile Club and the FIA followed with the Club directed to focus its attention to off road events. The Club ran a Forestry Single Stage Rally from The Naper Arms Hotel in 1986 with the infamous Mullaghmeen forest the test. Sean Curran and Alan Johnson were among the ones to watch as was a young and up and coming driver called Stephen Finlay. Melvin’s Autocross continued under the Castle banner for many years and remains in many competitors minds to this day. It’s fair to say that Castle promoted some different events, from an Autotest at Loughcrew, the Loose Surface Autocross at Killinkere Complex to quarry events in Floods, Kilnaleck and Gormanstown. The Castle Club also ran the first MI event at the Rally School Ireland facility in Monaghan many years ago. Unfortunatlly, Mullaghmene became unavailable for rallying and is now a preserved complex for other activities.

Tarmac was most people’s first choice and eventually through much persuasion, the Club were granted a permit to co-promote its first Tarmac Stage event. This hailed a turning point for the Club and one from which is has never looked back. I992 saw the first Castle Single Stage held from it’s base at the Bloomfield House Hotel. John Carter took on the task of C.O.C and he and his team ran a very successful event. Ken Colbert and Gerry McVeigh took victory in their Stanley Cookers backed Metro 6R4.

The Castle Single Stage became an event of distiction with many of the country’s best rally drivers targeting this event as a must. Past winners include Charlie Donnelly and Niall Maguire among the list. The only two locals to clinch victory to date are Connie Smith, Pat Donegan and Andrew Browne.

 

Over the years, many volunteered to act as Clerk of the Course, and the role of these names included John Carter, Paddy Egan, Finbarr Mangan, Tommy Curran, Declan Tansey, Breen Mcnamee and Joe Curran. Through the work of these people and the working committee and members, the event remains popular and is now a  Mini Stage event.

 

At present, the Club host four events throughout the year. A Tarmac Sprint, a Grass Surface Autocross, the Mini Stages Rally and a Loose Surface Autocross. Our updated web site can keep you informed of the Club’s activities.