The man who had the idea for Birr Vintage Week told friends he wanted a festival where people could drive old crocks down main street and dress up in their grandparents' clothes.
As the 34th vintage week got under way in the Co Offaly town yesterday, it was clear some participants had taken hotelier Frank Egan's words more literally than others.
Lord Ross of Birr Castle was wearing a midnight blue ensemble complete with white stockings, an outfit his grandfather had worn "when he was lieutenant of King's County" as Offaly used to be known. "We have lots of old togs in the castle," he said before performing an impressive sword salute to the amusement of a garda strolling past.
There were plenty of old crocks too, lovingly restored by their owners and driven through the town to the cheers of thousands of onlookers. Dinky Morris Minors, sleek Jaguars, purring Rolls Royces and the odd vintage Massey Ferguson trundled through Emmet Square, drivers beeping their horns at the dignitaries who watched from the stage.
A 1931 Austin Saloon called Nelly deserves special mention just for making it up the hill, while those without horse power included colourful drumming band Africo who got one of the biggest cheers of the day. But "you'd miss the aul' steam engines all the same," said one regular visitor.
Birr Vintage Week is a kind of rural Bloomsday. Women in Victorian hats drank pints in Dooly's Hotel while men in boaters ate popcorn and tried their luck on the wheel of fortune.
This is Fine Gael TD Olwyn Enright's fifth time to chair the festival committee. The Birr woman was almost unrecognisable in an elegant full length black dress, her hair fashioned in tight curls on top of her head.
"Everyone really gets involved. We have people who have left Birr who book their holidays here every year to join in. There is something for everyone," she said.
This included a young Elvis impersonator, a Barney and a Bob the Builder who kept a smile on the faces of prettily dressed children with no interest in motor cars. The festival was also a wonderful opportunity for street traders to offload some of their excess inflatable hammers left over from the World Cup. "We can't sell them fast enough," said one.
The packed programme is nothing if not eclectic. Upcoming events include an annual golf competition, a treasure hunt, an antique fair, a charades competition and festival regular, The Good Olde Days variety show.
At Birr Castle tomorrow local playwright Michael Harding will present a one-man show based on the personality of Jonathan Swift.
The vintage theme that has taken over this former garrison town gets chucked out the Georgian windows for finale night on Thursday, however. A tribute band of a more recent vintage, Abbaesque, will take to the stage on the Guinness Gig Rig before the festivities come to an end with a state-of-the-art fireworks display. For more information phone 087 922 6961.