I am Kevin Reid, with a lifelong passion for all things mechanical and I have dedicated myself to preserving and promoting Irish transport heritage for the benefit of future generations. Through twice-weekly videos and accompanying well-researched articles, I publish stories past and present from individuals, museums and companies.
My love for machinery began with my parents, who shared a passion for long-distance road trips across Ireland and beyond. We travelled as far as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. I started out on the back of my father’s Jawa 350, later solo-riding his Suzuki GS850, while my brother Dermot rode pillion with my mother on her Honda CB250 and Yamaha XS400.
These days I am now the keeper of my Dad’s Suzuki GS850 and Mum’s Yamaha XS400 and keeping the family traditions going with road trips across Europe.
Meeting Martina from County Leitrim introduced me to a community of skilled craftsmen in sheds. Martina, now my wife, shares my passion for all things mechanical. Together, we’ve restored our 1965 Volvo Amazon and repainted our 1979 Land Rover Series III.
In 2018, I launched the ‘Leitrim Made’ website to feature projects by neighbours and friends. Initially I focused on local stories like a Kioti tracked-tractor, MZ motorcycle with trailer, our Land Rover respray, and a 1936 Wolseley ‘Wacky Racer’. During the 2020 lockdown I renamed the website as ‘Ireland Made’ expanding to cover transport stories from across the island of Ireland.
If it has wings, wheels, or floats with an Irish transport connection, you’ll find it here.
Please enjoy our stories.
Best regards
Kevin Reid
Ireland Made® Founder