Ford Escorts to go on 115-mile charity run through Donegal to mark 50th birthday

Dozens of Mark II Ford Escorts will be descending on Inishowen this weekend as the iconic car celebrates its 50th birthday.

The 2025 Inishowen Run and Show is the 16th event run by the Inishowen branch of the Irish Escort Club.

The event involves a convoy of Ford Escorts travelling from Muff to Rathmullan on Saturday, April  26 with a show at the  Muff Community Park on Sunday, April 27.

The weekend will raise funds for the Lough Swilly RNLI.

The event has raised more than €10,000 over the years for local charities such as the Donegal Hospice and Foyle Search and Rescue.

One of the organisers of the event, Damien McLaughlin from Muff, said it is hoped that fifty Mark II Escorts will turn up to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the first production of the car, some of which were made at the Ford plant in Cork. 

Read next: Friends of Letterkenny University Hospital Easter Draw raises over €10,000

“The Mark II Escort has a big following both in rallying and road cars,” he said. 

“We are looking for the oldest Mark II, which was built in 1975, of which there are very few left and we are looking for all models [of the Mark II].”

More than 200 cars in total, including other Ford models, are expected at the show on Sunday. Cars will be attending from all over Ireland as well as parts of Britain.

Read next: Donegal cheerleaders take world bronze medals in Florida

The run will leave  Damien McLaughlin’s garage in Muff (F93YK72) at 10.30am on Saturday with gathering from 9am. The cars will travel a loop of Inishowen on a route of 115 miles that is expected to finish in Rathmullan around 4.30pm after completing a loop of Fanad. The show will begin at 10.30am on Sunday at Muff Community Park.