Connections from race 120 years ago bring two Murphys together in Kilcullen

Oliver Murphy and David Murphy, unrelated but connected.

Yesterday's first Kilcullen showing of a new documentary on the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race brought two unrelated Murphys to Kilcullen Heritage Centre, both with very strong family connections to the original race, writes Brian Byrne.

Retired Newbridge businessman Oliver Murphy's grandfather drove his steam-powered roller from County Down to Athy to help with preparing the roads of the race route. David Murphy, from Dublin, also has a generational connection to the race, as his grandfather TW Murphy was a timekeeper for the biggest event ever held in Ireland at the time.

Oliver Murphy's grandfather was William Allen from Cumber in County Down and it took him seven days to drive his steamroller from his home town to County Kildare, stopping every three hours to fill it with water. "After working on the roads for the race he stayed on in the area," Oliver recalled, "and in 1914 he joined Kildare County Council and drove the roller for them until he retired in 1952, at 76 years of age." Oliver says that the only reason his grandfather retired was that steam had been superseded by diesel-powered road-making machines. "He died at the age of 96, a lovely man."

David Murphy's grandfather worked for Mecredy Publishers, who produced a special road map for the event, with sponsorship from Brampton's Chains, Palmer Tyres, Lanchester Cars and Clipper Tyres. David brought along a copy of that item. "It's now very delicate," he noted as he carefully unfolded it.

Those who came to watch How Ireland Saved Motorsport were very impressed with the production, which includes contemporaneous film footage as well as interviews with enthusiasts who drive their vintage and veteran cars each year to commemorate the event.

The half-hour documentary, in two parts, was made by Bailey & Blake Productions for the heritage offices of Kildare, Carlow and Laois county councils. As part of Heritage Week 2023, it is running on a rolling basis each afternoon this week in Kilcullen Heritage Centre until Friday, from 2.30pm. All welcome, a free event and there's tea and biscuits.

(The Diary's linked spreadsheet of Heritage Week events through County Kildare can be accessed here. They are tabulated both by town and by date.)

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