Brian Foley remembered
Mercedes all-electric EQC SUV
A Car culture new
IRELAND’S NUMBER ONE AUTO MAGAZINE IN ASSOCIATION WITH 2008
3.99 Stg £2. 80
New models coming in 2008 I
n the early 1990s, an accomplished photographer, journalist and publisher approached the then managing director of
Irish Permanent Finance, Chris Hanlon (now managing director of First Citizen Finance), initially to sell advertising for his publication but Mr. Hanlon had other ideas – to bring an exciting new car buying guide to Irish Permanent customers through the branch network. Although the Auto Ireland brand was not new to the market, the concept of a new car buying guide for Irish motorists was. The first edition of the new Auto Ireland Guide to New Cars was produced in 1994, fully supported by Chris Hanlon. Today, 25 years later, having experienced many positive and negative economic periods along the way, the magazine is still as popular as ever with the Irish car buying public. Brian Foley was a motoring enthusiast and
a driving force behind Auto Ireland. Brian’s life is inspirational for those who are passionate about motoring. He was born in 1932 in Carlow town and attended Terenure College as a boarder. After school, Brian worked in his family business but his passion for cars and motoring took over. For over 60 years, he was a dedicated motor sport chronicler in Ireland. As a photographer, he began his career taking pictures at events, where he had the honour to photograph great drivers such as Robin Rennicks, Frank Keane, Michael Smurfit, John Watson and Rosemary Smith. He won the Irish Press photographer of the year award in 1968. In 1969, Brian married Mary Schwer and
together they built the Auto Ireland brand. Mary passed away in 2012 and three years later Brian passed away, leaving their daughter Sinéad and their grandson Ronan. Ronan is a
2 Auto Ireland 2020
YOURGUIDE TO
CNEWARS2008
The ultimate guide to the all the new cars & 4WD’s – prices, specs & star ratings
+ REVIEWS/PREVIEWS/CONCEPTS/CAR FINANCE/FORMULA ONE & WRC
AI_Cover08_A.indd 1
11/26/07 12:27:29 PM
promising young athlete, a canoeist, who has represented Ireland on many occasions and follows his grandparent’s footsteps in the competitive sports industry. Brian Foley, as Editor and founder of Auto
Ireland, will always be remembered as a dedicated professional, excellent photographer and for his unconditional love for motor sports. As we exited the recessionary economic
period in Ireland only a few short years ago, Brian wrote this inspirational piece to remind us about staying true to the very essence of
FUTURE SHOCKS!
Motorsport Calendar 2008
There tends to be a single driving force behind most new projects and with the Auto Ireland Guide to New Cars there is certainly no exception to this rule
the motor car and the fun of driving one: “In the pioneering era of motoring the
new-fangled ‘horseless carriage’ quickly established a car culture, inspired by the unprecedented personal freedom of being able to drive from place to place at one’s own pace. Car owner aspiration escalated rapidly through the development years of the motor car, as quest for the contraptions quickly escalated into the beginnings of private transport. Car chat gelled with car meetings in fun social occasions. Motorsport was daringly challenging for brave hearts. Cars improved but many also became dull and boring. Commuting became a chore and a bore. Then the recession knocked the wheels out of motoring enjoyment as it was in the good old days. Enough of doom and gloom, let’s get back into a car culture.” Chris Hanlon and First Citizen Finance
proudly dedicate this special 25th anniversary edition of the Auto Ireland Guide to New Cars to the memory of Brian Foley. AI
AUTO IRELAND MAGAZINE
GUIDE TO NEW CARS 2008
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116
