North Down Museum officially launched its new exhibition, The Birth of Irish Motor Racing, last night, celebrating 100 years of the Ulster Automobile Club and the pivotal role played by Ards and North Down in the early development of motorsport in Ireland and beyond.
The exhibition explores the formative decades of motor racing, tracing its origins from the early 20th century through to the golden age of racing in the 1920s and 1930s. It highlights how Northern Ireland – and particularly the local Borough – became a centre for innovation, competition and international sporting prestige.
Speaking at the launch, the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum said:
“This exhibition shines a light on a fascinating chapter of our local history and the significant role our Borough played on the international motor racing stage. It is a proud reminder of the ambition, ingenuity and sporting legacy that continues to define Ards and North Down.”
Founded in 1925, the Ulster Automobile Club is the oldest motorsports club in Northern Ireland and one of the oldest in the UK. Established to promote the emerging sport of motor racing, the club went on to organise some of the island’s most iconic and enduring events. Two of its earliest competitions – the Circuit of Ireland Rally and the Craigantlet Hill Climb – are still staged annually today.
Visitors to the exhibition can explore the club’s early years, when its members helped to shape the sport itself. In the aftermath of World War I and the partition of Ireland, motor racing was used as a way to promote the car industry and attract spectators, supported by progressive legislation that permitted road racing in Northern Ireland when it was banned elsewhere.
A particular highlight is the story of how the famous Tourist Trophy (TT) races came to Ards in 1928, along with the development of the Circuit of Ireland Rally and the popular County Down Trophy Race, which drew large crowds to Donaghadee and Bangor during the 1930s.
Displayed in the Long Gallery at North Down Museum, The Birth of Irish Motor Racing features a rare collection of artefacts from the Ulster Automobile Club archive and private racing collections. Original programmes, photographs and memorabilia reveal the depth of the Borough’s connections to the sport and to Bangor Castle itself.
The Birth of Irish Motor Racing runs from Thursday 23 April to Sunday 9 August at North Down Museum and is open during normal museum hours. Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.andculture.org.uk
@cultureardsandnorthdown
