Drive
Behind The Wheel
Make: Megane RS Engine: 2L Petrol How much: €43,000 How long do you have it? Six months!
Zero emissions, the future of all cars. What’s your dream drive? Renault Dezir, sports car. It’s launching in two years and needless to say I can’t wait. It’s a lovely car.
What was your first car? It was a Renault Clio and I was 18 at the time. I was working a part- time job to save up for it. I was very proud of myself for saving so hard. The insurance worked out to be more than the price of the car but I was just so delighted to be the owner of my Who is your insurer? Aviva. I go through Kelleher Insurance Brokers and they get me very own first car. the best deal possible and that happens to be Did you pass your test first time? I did indeed, with Aviva. aged 18. It was the best £50 I ever spent! What’s on your CD player? Bon Jovi. How often do you change your car? It depends – Do you use Sat Nav? Yes. It’s very handy when mostly every three months. going on a long journey. On one particular Best car you ever drove? It was a Renault Fluence ZE, it was a fully electric prototype worth €1.5 million. It was on test for Renault.
Donal Watters of Blackstone Motors Nav and it took me about an hour longer than it should have to get to my destination. I was wrecked by the time I got there!
Your perfect Sunday drive? Glendalough. I’m a very keen walker and it’s such an idyllic journey though it wasn’t so handy – must admit it was my own fault really. I was going to destination. The drive there is well worth it. I Donegal and I hadn’t updated the card in the Sat love the narrow, winding roads.
Liam O’Keefe is a well-known doorman in Drogheda. He is an avid biker and has been from a young age
1100, a Virago 1100 and a 1984 Honda CB Nighthawk.
certain routes in the world made for bikers and I think this is one of them.
What bikes would be in your fantasy garage? Why do you think there are not more All of the bikes I already own and I would like people riding bikes? A lot of bikers would to get a chopper before I get too old! have started riding bikes because they were cheaper than cars but now cars are a lot more What protective gear do you wear? I only affordable than they were so a lot of people just wear the best of safety gear. A very good keep bikes for leisure, but I think there are is a friend of mine, the late Jessie Johnson from good amount of bikers in Ireland. Termonfeckin once told me, ‘If you’re gonna
What was your first bike and when did you start riding? I first started riding when I was about 15 and it was my father’s 78cc Natobi scooter – it was the only scooter that time that had motorcycle wheels. One of my earliest bikes was a Honda 175cc Mk1. What bike do you currently have and how long have you had it? I have five bikes. I have a Suzuki Bandit 1200 with a sidecar that has a new Lord of the Rings paint scheme. I have a GS1100 Trike, a Yamaha Dragstar 34
E Drogheda
fall then fall with the best,’ so I always use this What habits of other road users do find most advise and only buy the best of protective wear. annoying/dangerous? I think that the standard of driving in Ireland is appalling. Take drivers Do you follow motorcycle racing? I go to the road races around the country and watch some at lights for example, a lot of people drive of it on TV but I am more into the social aspect through amber lights when they are turning of motorcycling like going on charity ride outs. red and some even drive through red lights. Some drivers treat bikers like they’re cyclists. What is your favourite road/route to take a ride on? I like taking the road from Skerries to Would you have any suggestions for the RSA Loughshinny and also riding from Dundalk to to improve safety for bikers? They should Drogheda along the coast and I also like taking make people wear proper safety gear because the Derry road back to Drogheda via Slane there is a lot of cheap clothing out there for etc… bikers. If you buy a helmet for €50 then that’s what kind of safety you will get. Buy the best If you could pick anywhere in the world to equipment and never wear jeans or anything take a trip on your bike where would it be? like that. I would love to ride on Route 66 – there are
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