Explore The Carole Nash Historic Festival
Join us for the Carole Nash Historic Festival and step back in time with classic cars, racing and entertainment.
Ireland’s only historic motor racing festival celebrates Vintage and Classic Cars and Historic Motorsport, from the glamour of the roaring 20s through to the swinging 60s.
Over two glorious days the Carole Nash Historic Festival will feature Pre and Post War Historic Car Races, demonstration runs by cars from the Martin Birrane Collection and displays of classic road and race cars in a show area filled with interesting and exciting sideshows, entertainment and top class food and drink.
This is an unmissable event offering the chance for racing enthusiasts and car lovers to experience five decades of Motorsports.
RACE ACTION*
On track, we will have The Irish International Grand Prix Trophy, the Dublin Grand Prix Trophy and the St. Brigid’s Trophy along with a full supporting cast.
Irish International Grand Prix
The first Irish International Grand Prix was an open-wheel motor race which was held in the Phoenix Park in Dublin in 1929.Â
After a long hiatus, the Irish International Grand Prix was revived and incorporated into the Carole Nash Historic Festival in 2022. This revival brought new life to the historic race, celebrating both its heritage and the evolution of motor racing. The 2024 edition of the Carole Nash Historic Festival will mark the third consecutive year of this revival.
Enthusiasts and racers alike look forward to this event, which not only honors the original spirit of the 1929 race but also showcases a range of classic and historic racing cars.
Dublin Grand Prix
In 2024 the Dublin Grand Prix Trophy will continue this year, contested by a grid of Formula Ford cars. The first running of the event in 2022 was exclusively for Frazer Nash models but in 2023 the grid was opened up to a variety of makes and models.
This Trophy will be presented to the race winner of Race 2 on Saturday afternoon 10th August.
Vivion Daly Memorial TrophyÂ
November 15th 2024 marks the 22nd anniversary of the passing of Vivion Daly following a battle with cancer.
Vivion was twice winner of the Sexton Trophy, winner of the 1999 Formula Opel Lotus Ireland championship, and winner of the 1994 Leinster Trophy.
Vivion ushered in a new era of professionalism that, when coupled with his undoubted talent, would take him to multiple championships and victories across a wide range of motorsports disciplines.
We are proud to present the Memorial Trophy in his honour at the Mondello Historic Festival 2024 to the winner of Formula Ford 1600 race 3 on Sunday the 11th August.
Fionn Murray Memorial TrophyÂ
May 30th 2024 marks the 26th anniversary of the passing of Fionn Murray in a tragic aircraft accident in Strandhill, Sligo which also took the life of his father-in-law Holger.
Fionn started his racing career in 1984 in an Alfasud and quickly graduated to a Crossle FFord in 1985. By 1987 Fionn had established himself as a front runner in FFord and was offered a works drive by John Crossle which he readily accepted.
Fionn was a quite and modest man but when the helmet went on he turned into a furiously competitive individual. His dices with Vivion Daly in Formula Ford 1600 were epic and had the crowds in Mondello on their feet on many occasions. Fionn was Irish FFord champion and established a new class lap record in Knockhill, Scotland. He competed in a works Reynard 1600 at the 1990 Formula Ford Festival and finished 2nd where he was up against the best, up and coming young drivers in the world.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to present Fionn’s Memorial Trophy for race 1 at the Historic Festival on Saturday 10th August. The Murray Memorial Trophy was a commissioned piece at the request of Kevin K.P. & Peig Murray and made by Martina Gillen. Sligo.
Anglo/Irish Challenge
We are pleased to announce that Cliff Dempsey has generously donated this historic trophy, which the Irish Formula Ford team won at Oulton Park in 1987 and 1988. Originally initiated by Simon North of Oulton Park, this trophy will now be the centerpiece of this exciting competition.
Two team captains will be chosen from the Irish and UK competitors, with points awarded based on race finishing order. The team with the most points will receive the trophy at the Mondello Park Carole Nash Historic Festival.
St. Bridget’s Trophy Race
St. Bridget the patron saint of Kildare, the County where Mondello Park is situated, with fame rooted in pagan folklore and known for her compassion and kindness, lends her name to this new Irish Motor Racing trophy which celebrates the first Irish public holiday to be named after a woman.
For 2024 the trophy will be raced for by a class which is close to the hearts of Irish Motor Racing fans. Once the premier Irish Motor Racing class Formula Ford 2000 returns to Mondello Park as the HSCC bring their historic FF2000 series back to Ireland.
*Trophy classes subject to change
Bike Racing Is Back
Classic Bike Racing Ireland are the go to club for pre 1973 motorcycle racing in Ireland. They have over 50 racing club members and a host of support members. They have numerous champions in their ranks like Barry Davidson. A manx GP winner and a rider with over 100 road race wins to his credit. Think about that for a second, Barry has won over 100 races on Irish roads, that easily puts him in the top ten all time Irish riders, The club also has other Manx GP winners like Nigel Moore and Brian Mateer racing with us week in week out. These are seriously quick racers on any machine. Modern bike riders sometimes come for a run out with us but struggle to keep up with these lads.
What type of machinery are you likely to see at a pre 73 classic race. We have single cylinder British and European machines like Manx Nortons, Triumph Triples, Seeley G50s and even some 2 stroke 350 Bultacos. Other 2 strokes and very popular in the smaller classes are Suzuki T20 250cc twins. Extremely light and nimble and when well-tuned can produce close to 50 HP and are capable of over 120mph in the right hands. Not too shabby for a mid-60s 250cc. We have multiple Hondas competing in all classes. The 350 K4 twin is a very versatile machine, easily capable of over 130mph. Bigger Hondas include early 450 Blackbombers, which are also twins. Then we have the 4 cylinder Hondas like 500/4 and 750/4. These compete in our unlimited class and make a glorious growl when ridden in anger.
For the Carole Nash Historic Festival all our classes will run on track at the same time. Classes are broken down as follows and each class is in its own race within a race. We have up to 250cc, 251cc to 350cc, 351cc to 500cc Twins, all multi cylinder machines compete in the unlimited class. Expect close tight racing right throught the grid, these classic machines can move and with megaphone exhaust fitted they make a beautiful noise.
OFF TRACK
Off-track, we will have plenty to see and do for fans of everything retro, with music, food, entertainment and plenty of surprises the Historic Festival has something for everyone.
Even when you want a break from the track activity we will have something to entertain all the family.
We’ll have music with a retro theme from our fabulous swing bands and our exciting drum ensemble while you enjoy the food from our street food pop-ups or our in-house restaurant. A vintage funfair will further enliven our paddock with fairground rides, retro games, face painting and much, much more.
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