Considering there were only three of these Irish grand prix meetings this seems a big book. But, says Bob Montgomery, these races were a signal that the young Irish state had arrived on the world stage. It was a huge undertaking – they moved a monument and dug a subway – but entries justified the effort: Tim Birkin, Malcolm Campbell, Giulio Campari, even Rudi Caracciola, whose wife had to dress as a man to be admitted to the pits. With its two-mile straight and scenic setting it was very popular, drawing thousands, but the fun didn’t last, defeated by financial losses despite terrific racing. Montgomery relates this in exciting detail, especially the rain-drenched final battle between Birkin and Campari, and provides all results, entries and lap timings. More than that,…
