Last month, The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens played host to the International Bugatti Meeting’s week-long driving tour of the Kerry & Cork countryside. The hotel welcomed over 100 Bugattis and 200 guests from all over the world.
The exciting week-long event saw guests take in the stunning sights and surrounds of the Kerry and Cork countryside. The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, which is set in the beautiful surrounds of Killarney and overlooks the iconic landmark The Gap of Dunloe, was perfectly located for this special occasion. The Bugatti owners also enjoyed experiencing the routes of some of the most iconic rally stages in Ireland, including Caragh Lake and the Healy Pass.
Speaking about the event, organiser, Mike Preston, said “The International Bugatti Meeting was thoroughly researched before we concluded Ireland and the South West could cope with an influx of some 100 historic Bugatti cars. The roads, people, scenery were all we needed. After careful consideration of the time of year we then selected the Dunloe Hotel & Gardens as the central single accommodation.”
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Allihies Village Beara Peninsula. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Ardgroom, Beara Peninsula. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Ardgroom, Beara Peninsula. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Ardgroom, Beara Peninsula. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving The Ballaghabeama Pass, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving Bolus Head, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
“One of the attractions was the private location where we could concentrate on the ethos of this years event ‘By Friends, For Friends, With Friends’. We were able to secure the whole hotel for our exclusive use. This gave every participant the ability to feel “At Home”. When participants asked me Can I do this….? Can we do that?….. I simply said “It’s your home for the week”. The hotel and staff enabled this to happen. The whole atmosphere from start to end was that of friendship. With so many countries being represented we were able to facilitate any requirements throughout the whole week. I cannot thank the staff and management at the Dunloe enough for helping organise and execute such a prestigious event”
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Caherdaniel, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Cill na Martra Co Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Cill na Martra Co Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Cill na Martra Co Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Cill na Martra Co Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Cill na Martra Co Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Speaking about the event, Jason Clifford, General Manager at The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens said, “It was an absolute pleasure to be the host venue for the International Bugatti Meeting 2019. The exclusive use of the hotel for this 7 day programme was 4 years in the making between The Dunloe Sales Team and organizers Mike Preston and Rupert Marks. It was a stunning sight to see so many vintage Bugatti cars parked at The Dunloe, some of which were built in the 1920s.”
“The Bugatti guests made great use of our 64 acres of listed gardens and held a BBQ by the thatched cottage in the gardens, enjoyed tours of the 12th century Dunloe Castle and watched falconry demonstrations on the lawn. We hope to be able to welcome many more similar groups in the future and thank Mike Preston and his team for placing his trust in The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens to deliver such an amazing event”
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Inish Beg Estate, West Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Inish Beg Estate, West Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Inish Beg Estate, West Cork. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving Ladies View, Killarney, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving Ladies View, Killarney, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting at Sneem, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting Sneem Hotel, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Bugatti Tour Meeting driving through Sneem, Co Kerry. International Bugatti Meetings are held in a rotation through Europe. In 2019 the meeting based at the Dunloe Castle, Killarney, toured the peninsulas of West Cork and Kerry. Driving the Wild Atlantic Way. The most iconic and valuable Bugatti cars celebrates its 110th anniversary. Frenchman Ettore Bugatti created the first engineering art form of car manufacturing in 1909. The symbolic racing cars are worth millions of euro.Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan©
Automobiles Ettore Bugatti was a French car manufacturer of high-performance automobiles, founded in 1909 in the then-German city of Molsheim, Alsace by the Italian-born industrial designer Ettore Bugatti. The cars were known for their design beauty and for their many race victories. Famous Bugattis include the Type 35 Grand Prix cars, the Type 41 “Royale”, the Type 57 “Atlantic” and the Type 55 sports car.
The death of Ettore Bugatti in 1947 proved to be the end for the marque, and the death of his son Jean Bugatti in 1939 ensured there was not a successor to lead the factory. No more than about 8,000 cars were made. The company struggled financially, and released one last model in the 1950s, before eventually being purchased for its airplane parts business in 1963. In the 1990s, an Italian entrepreneur revived it as a builder of limited production exclusive sports cars. Today, the name is owned by the Volkswagen Group.
