Some of the founding members of the Streete Vintage Show, in 2002; (back from left) Micky Early (RIP), Marty Gaynor and Declan Carthy; (front) Linda Butler, Tracy Carthy, Patricia Brady, Pat Duffy, John Noel McGivney and Kevin Brady.

Founder of Streete Vintage Show looks back at early days

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The founder of Streete Vintage Show, Kevin Brady, is a Streete man “born and reared” who has a great affinity for his parish and has been dedicated to its betterment for years.

“From I was born, I was a car fanatic. I’ve spent a lifetime going to vintage shows,” he said. When the new community centre was being built in Streete, he thought “it would be great to have something that would put Streete on the map”.

He came up with the idea of a vintage show and put it to the community centre committee, who embraced the notion. “And that is how it all started, back in 2002.”

The first show was on the “wettest day in living memory, rain bucketing down from early morning – but people still came and brought their vehicles and we had a great day”, Kevin recalls.

The president’s car, IRL 1, attended that first ever show and was due to return this year, but sadly its owner, Kevin Byrne has passed away.

This year is the 20th anniversary of that first vintage show. Covid-19 stopped the show going ahead in the last two years, but this year the show is back and promises a great day out for the whole family, not just vintage vehicle enthusiasts.

Kevin knows all about the impact of the pandemic as he works in a Covid testing centre. He explained that a 20th anniversary show would involve a lot of organising and, with Covid still present, the committee decided to wait until the 21st anniversary for a big bash.

“Something like that takes a lot of work and time, contacting people, getting insurance, complying with regulations, health and safety and now Covid. There’s a lot involved, it’s a mammoth task, but we hope to put on a 21st birthday next year and make it a weekend event,” Kevin said.

Down the years, Kevin has worked with many amazing people to stage the show. A lot of those who were involved at the start have since died, but new people have come on board.

He mentioned in particular Brian Nerney and John Parker, two men who devoted tremendous time and effort to the show. They and others went to vintage shows all over the country spreading the word, said Kevin.

He remarked that it is a huge undertaking for a small community to stage such a major event each year, but they can do it. People come from all over the country to show their prize vintage vehicles in Streete. Some of them have been coming for years, and the average attendance is more than 2,500.

The organising committee meet two months before the show and weekly from then on, but people like Kevin and the other stalwarts are working throughout the year behind the scenes.

Johnny Brady, whom Kevin describes as “our Garth Brooks”, and Olivia Douglas, “the leading lady in modern country music”, will be appearing at this year’s show. Pat Fallon, “one of Europe’s most acclaimed magicians”, will also be performing.

There will be the popular jiving competition which normally has 200-plus competitors – looking for fun as well as trophies – and the equally popular dog show. Kevin stresses that the dog show is another fun event, “definitely not Crufts” and he would discourage anyone who thinks it is.

It is for people who want to show off their treasured family pets and it attracts entries from around the country and many from Northern Ireland.

This month, Streete lost one of its most popular and inspirational citizens, John Dunne, who will be sorely missed at the vintage show. “He’d be there wiping tables and chatting to the people.

He was looking forward to the vintage show this year, but sadly he passed away just days before his 90th birthday,” Kevin said.

John had spent much of his life in Australia and returned to Ireland and bought a pub in Streete in the 1980s – however, he would return to Australia every Christmas and was back there last Christmas.

His passing will be sorely felt by the parish at the show and in all they do. The Streete Vintage Show has supported many charities over the years, including LARCC in Multyfarnham.

It was the brainchild of Kevin Brady, a man who has masterminded many amazing developments in his native Streete and who, no doubt will go on to engineer many more.

This year's Streete Vintage Show is on Sunday, June 26, at Streete Parish Park.

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