First female co-chair at Streete Vintage

New committee member at Streete Vintage Club, Orla O’Hara, has made history as being the first women elected as the club gear up to celebrate their 25-year anniversary.

From a farming background, Orla credits her love of vintage tractors and cars to her father and more recently her 14-year-old son.

Orla decided to throw her hat in the ring to join the committee when she realised how much members do behind the scenes, especially for the annual Streete Vintage Show.

“The main reason I’m on that committee was I just seen the hard work the boys actually do and the work and the effort that’s put into the Vintage Club every year, and into the Vintage Day itself, even, like the work that goes on behind the scenes is second to none,” said Ms O’Hara.

“Over the last two years, they’ve so kindly allowed us to hold a fundraiser for our local school, St Fintan’s National School, Lismacaffrey , so I just wanted to try and give back and help them the best I could.”

After joining the committee, Orla said she didn’t know she was the first women in the club’s history to be elected.

“It’s a lovely feeling, it’s a great achievement, a great honour.”

Despite not being front and centre on the committee, there is plenty of female interest and involvement, helping out at the club’s main events, from car park stewarding to food preparation, and everything in between.

“Hopefully then next year when the AGM comes around, someone else might join it, or get elected to it,” said Orla. “They’ll see it’s not just all for men, it’s not all masculinity.”

As the club prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary, they are already getting ready to organise events for the 2027 season, including the Streete Vintage Show in the summer.