Skip links and go to Page Content
Skip links and go to Page Content

County Kildare History and Heritage

Gordon Bennett Motor Race 1903

Intro and Menu | April Articles

Leinster Leader, Saturday 11 April 1903, Last Edition - Page 5.

District Doings.
In Athy and Carlow.


***
A representative of Messrs. Spence, London, visited Athy last week and arranged with the Gas Company for the purchase of 32,000 cubic feet of gas for the purposes of a balloon to be used on the occasion of the Gordon-Bennett motor race.
***
The balloon will be used by the Press representatives for the purpose of obtaining a description of the race. It will make the ascent at Athy, and will have a suitable auto-car attached.
***
This incident, coupled with the fact that Athy will be the centre of the race, will make the town by the Barrow a busy place to live in on July 2nd next.
***
Already offers have been made for houses in the town, and householders are likely to reap a profitable harvest by the incursion of visitors.
***
The company which took over the Leinster Arms Hotel, Athy, was floated this week. Mr. M. J. Minch is chairman of the Board of Directors, and the other shareholders are Messrs. T. Hickey, J.P., M. Whelan, T. J. Brennan, F. R. Jackson, Charles Duncan, John Dooley and H. Hosey. The capital is £2,500.

In Wicklow.


An announcement of considerable importance to road contractors in the County Kildare was made by the County Surveyor at the quarterly meeting of Baltinglass No. 3 Council on Friday last.
***
Mr. Glover said that he had made a recommendation to the Automobile Club to allow to each contractor having the care of roads to be traversed by the cars in the great motor race, a bonus equal to one-quarters payment for the maintenance of the road.
***
Mr. Glover gave it as his opinion that the club will have no hesitation in carrying out his recommendation. He further explained that in order to earn this sum the road contractors should not be required to put any fresh material on the road. The only requirement would be the keeping of a fairly level road surface and the removal of loose stones etc. Should the club agree to his proposal, he estimates the total amount payable to contractors in his district at about £700.