Rolling Back The Years
"Ennis’s most unusual vehicle is now ready to take the starring role in one of the most unique fund raisers ever held in this country. For the pedal car pioneered by John Dunne and his colleagues on the Ennis Marathon Team is due to take to the road on October 1 to raise funds for the Mental Health Association.
Over the past four years, the Ennis Marathon Team has raised over £36,000 for various local charities through the medium of marathon cycle runs, walks and mountain climbs.
On the trip for the Mental Health Association, the team of sixteen men and 4 women will take the pedal car from Ennis through Nenagh, Roscrea, Mountrath, Portlaoise, Kildare, Nass and Dublin.
On the return trip, they will pass through Lucan, Maynooth, Mullingar, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Loughrea and Gort.
According to the Mental Health Association, the local branches of the association and hospitals along the route will be advised individually of the timetable as it is hoped that their co-operation will be given in helping with the collection.
Now decked out in the Clare colours, the pedal car is estimated to weigh two and a half tons with the twenty passengers on board and measures 27’ in length and 7’6” in width.
The twenty cyclists will be seated in two rows of ten at right angles to the direction the vehicle move.s. Their combined power will turn the drive shaft which turns the rear wheels providing movement.
Although the idea for the pedal car was initially rejected by several people in the engineering trade, it was finally designed and manufactured by Gerry Cullinan of Tobertaoscaun and his assistant, Michael Mc Eniry."
From The Clare Champion 1984
Over the past four years, the Ennis Marathon Team has raised over £36,000 for various local charities through the medium of marathon cycle runs, walks and mountain climbs.
On the trip for the Mental Health Association, the team of sixteen men and 4 women will take the pedal car from Ennis through Nenagh, Roscrea, Mountrath, Portlaoise, Kildare, Nass and Dublin.
On the return trip, they will pass through Lucan, Maynooth, Mullingar, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Loughrea and Gort.
According to the Mental Health Association, the local branches of the association and hospitals along the route will be advised individually of the timetable as it is hoped that their co-operation will be given in helping with the collection.
Now decked out in the Clare colours, the pedal car is estimated to weigh two and a half tons with the twenty passengers on board and measures 27’ in length and 7’6” in width.
The twenty cyclists will be seated in two rows of ten at right angles to the direction the vehicle move.s. Their combined power will turn the drive shaft which turns the rear wheels providing movement.
Although the idea for the pedal car was initially rejected by several people in the engineering trade, it was finally designed and manufactured by Gerry Cullinan of Tobertaoscaun and his assistant, Michael Mc Eniry."
From The Clare Champion 1984