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Gordon Bennett Motor Race 1903
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Leinster Leader, Saturday 28 February 1903 - Page 8.
NAAS UNION
WEDNESDAY.
…
THE AUTOMOBILE RACE.
Mr. Healy proposed, and Mr. J S O’Grady seconded the following
resolution:- “That recognising the great benefit which the
proposed automobile race will confer on this county, and eventually
on the whole country, we hereby pledge ourselves to give the project
all the support in our power, and in the event of the Bill now
before Parliament to legalise the race being opposed, we respectfully
ask the Chief Secretary to use his influence with the Government
to make it a Government measure and thereby ensure its passing
into law, and that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the
Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Automobile Club.”
Mr. Healy said the County Councils of Kildare, Queen’s Co. and Carlow had already given their sanction to the project, and they all knew that a deputation had waited on the Lord Lieutenant last Friday, and that they had been received very well. At that interview the Lord Lieutenant gave it to be understood that the Government wanted the support of all the local bodies affected before bringing in a Bill. It was for the purpose of getting such support that he proposed his resolution. The race would confer a lasting benefit on the country.
Mr. Hanlon: And on the undertakers (laughter).
Mr. J. S. O’Grady said he saw by the papers that morning
that the private bill, which had been introduced into Parliament,
was opposed by an obscure Tory member, who was never heard of
before, but who was evidently looking for cheap notoriety. About
20,000 people will come from England and from the Continent, and
they as the premier sporting county in Ireland should do their
best to secure the holding of the race in the district.-The resolution
was passed unanimously.