Snippets

Leinster Leader, Saturday 31 January 1903 - Page 5.

THE GREAT MOTOR RACE.
LETTERS FROM MOST REV. DR. FOLEY AND MR. S. J. BROWN.
In connection with the great motor race for the Gordon-Bennett Cup, proposed to be held in Ireland (starting and finishing at Naas) there is much correspondence in the current issue of the "Automobile Club Journal." A Bill must be obtained to enable the race to be held in Ireland, and the Automobile Club are seeking support for a petition in its favour. This they are absolutely certain of obtaining from almost every public body and representative public man in the country. Already almost all the Irish members of Parliament have promised their hearty co-operation whilst numbers of the County and District Councils follow suit.
The Most Rev. Patrick Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, writes:- "In response to your circular, I have much pleasure in declaring myself an ardent advocate of the proposed route for the Gordon-Bennett Cup Race, 1903. As all the towns and most of the rural districts through which it passes are situated within my diocese, I am well acquainted with their inhabitants, and have no hesitation in stating that with the proviso respecting proper precautions contained in your circular, the proposal will be received with acclimation alone the whole line of route. Wishing the project every success".

Mr. S. J. Brown (chairman of the Kildare Co. Council) writes:- "In response to your circular of 24th inst., I can safely promise, on behalf of my Council, that your committee may count upon their support for the proposed Bill to enable the Automobile Race to be held in Ireland and that they will do everything in their power to have the roads in good order for the occasion. There will be no meeting of the Council until the 9th prox., but I shall then bring the matter formally before them. If I might make a suggestion, it would be that it would be hardly necessary to begin the race at such an early hour as 3 a.m."
The Early of Mayo, Sir Algernon Coote, Sir A. A. Weldon, Mr.. J. L. Carew, M.P., Mr. Wm. Delaney, M.P., Mr. M. J. Minch, M.P., County Court Judge Fitzgerald, Colonel R. Cosby, the Queen's County Council, etc., have also promised their support.