Visit to Vintage Car Show inspires local Templemore legend (92) to give back

Templemore native John Casey has seen it all in his 92 years and now he is hoping his love for feats of engineering can inspire people to raise funds for dementia.

Originally from Barbane, Mr Casey spent most of his adult life in Cloone, Templemore, and has spent a lifetime immersing himself in engineering and being a mechanical engineer by trade, he continues to be fascinated by cars, steam engines, and everything in between.

Currently residing in the Community Hospital of the Assumption in Thurles, Casey has had big collections of vintage tractors and cars over the years including International, Fordson, Fordson-Major, Case, Oliver and Dodge, and other mechanically propelled contraptions, and he even managed to procure a very rare steam engine; a Foster Steam Engine which he was very willing to bring out for St Patrick’s Day parades over the years in Thurles, Templemore, Nenagh, Cashel, Clonmel and Roscrea.

Over many decades, Mr Casey has been lauded for his much-needed historical and educational awareness around our agricultural and motoring past, along with his organising of numerous steam threshing events, tractor rallies, car rallies, and various events around the towns of Tipperary.

His achievements don’t end there, as John is also one of the founding members of the Irish Steam Preservation Society in 1965 and co-founded the Irish Vintage Engine and Tractor Association in 1979.

Now into his ninth decade and currently in long term care, he continued his education on these matters recently when he was invited to attend a Vintage Car Rally in Two-Mile-Borris where he received a plaque for his involvement with vintage cars throughout his life.

John was treated to a special day out, as organiser of the Rally, Eamonn Medley picked John up from the Hospital and chauffeured him out to the venue to see all the amazing vehicles and feats of engineering present on the day.

Speaking about the wonderful day he had out in the glorious sunshine around Two-Mile-Borris, John said: “I want to thank all the staff and nurses here at the Community Hospital of the Assumption for taking great care of me.

“I also want to thank Eamonn Medley for bringing me to the Vintage Car Rally. It was a brilliant day out,” he added.

Never a man to rest on his achievements, John highlighted that he wishes to help those with dementia, as his beloved wife Alice is currently suffering from the condition, and he would like to fundraise to raise awareness for the countless elderly citizens around the country who suffer from the condition.

One thing is for sure, when it comes to getting things done, and achieving his goals, Mr Casey is certainly not to be underestimated.

He and his wife Alice have raised well over €1 million in charitable donations to various organisations around Ireland over the years, and this latest venture from John is sure to be a success as well.