02/07/2026
🚗✨ History came alive today... ✨🚗
Today, the Rotary Club of Naas proudly hosted the inaugural Jenatzy Run, following the legendary Gordon Bennett route through the beautiful countryside of Kildare and Laois.
The Jenatzy Run is the next chapter in the story of our much-loved Gordon Bennett Rally and, from today onwards, will take place every 2nd July, celebrating one of the greatest days in Irish motoring history. We hope this event will continue to grow, attracting enthusiasts from across Ireland and around the world for many years to come.
The run honours Camille Jenatzy, the brilliant Belgian racing driver who won the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup on Irish roads driving a Mercedes. Known as "The Red Devil" because of his distinctive red beard, Jenatzy was one of the true pioneers of motor racing and had already secured his place in history by becoming the first person ever to travel at over 100 km/h in a motor car.
Today, those pioneering days were beautifully remembered by an incredible display of pre-World War II motor cars. Each vehicle told its own story, and we are immensely grateful to every owner who brought their treasured cars, shared their passion with the public and made such generous donations.
Every euro raised will help support the Rotary Club of Naas' "Just One Life" road safety programme, helping us continue our mission of educating young people and making our roads safer for everyone.
Events like this simply don't happen without the support of wonderful people.
A very special thank you to Sean O'Gorman, whose dedication, enthusiasm and months of hard work brought the Jenatzy Run to life.
Thank you to our Rotary members who volunteered their time and supported the event throughout the day.
Our sincere thanks also go to Clanard Court Hotel for so generously providing the perfect venue to start our journey.
We are grateful to Kildare County Council for their financial support, which helped make today's event possible.
A special word of thanks to Dowling's Bar, Ballyshannon, for welcoming us to what is the original start and finish location of the Gordon Bennett race on 2 July 1903. Standing where motoring history was made added something truly special to the day.
Thank you also to our own Rotary member Stephen Maher for capturing so many wonderful moments through his photography.
Finally, our appreciation goes to our President Korahiza Macari, together with Michele Fury and Margaret O'Gorman, whose commitment, encouragement and hard work behind the scenes helped ensure the day was such a success.
Most of all, thank you to everyone who came along to enjoy the occasion. Whether you entered a car, volunteered, donated or simply joined us to celebrate this unique piece of Irish history, you helped make the first Jenatzy Run a memorable success.
Here's to making the Jenatzy Run an annual tradition and to welcoming even more friends from Ireland and overseas on 2 July 2027.
See you next year! 🚗🇮🇪
