Conventional wisdom generally supposes that prior to the first petrol-driven cars on Irish roads from 1896 onwards, there was little other than horse-drawn vehicles using the roads.
Increasingly, more and more evidence comes to light that there were a considerable number of steam-driven vehicles on Irish roads from around 1836.
The earliest recorded steam vehicle in Ireland appears to have been that of John Rowan of Doagh who on New Year's Day 1836 "drove proudly into Belfast in his steam coach". Despite a warm welcome from a brass band and an enthusiastic crowd of onlookers, he was unable to generate any interest whatsoever amongst possible investors, who no doubt saw the developing railways as a better return on their capital.
The Earl of Rosse is next to arrive on the steam scene, having constructed a successful steam vehicle around 1868. Sadly, this vehicle led to Ireland's first motoring fatality when the naturalist, Mrs Mary Ward, fell from it with fatal results in 1869, after which it was apparently broken up.
Intriguingly, the Dublin to Dunleer toll road introduced a specific tariff for steam-powered vehicles in 1845, giving rise to speculation now about the number of such vehicles in use.
But perhaps the most intriguing reference to steam vehicles in Ireland is that of the firm of Messrs J Richardson and Son of Capel Street, Dublin, which in 1880 was reported to have built a steam-car from the plans of a man named Blackburne. Apparently it could carry six passengers and operated successfully around Dublin.
Why did it not go into production? To quote its makers: "There were no pneumatic tyres in those days, and the rough roads around Dublin occasionally disarranged the machinery." Could a photograph of this vehicle have survived somewhere?
The advent of the petrol-engined car made life difficult for steam vehicles, although notably two companies, Stanley and White, both American, persevered with the type until around 1914, by which time it could offer no compelling advantages over petrol-driven types. Perhaps what's needed now is the application of some 21st century technology . . .