On 20 May 1902, the motorbike as a mode of transport was seen in the West of Ireland for the first time. A large crowd of people gathered in Tuam to see a man named T.M. Morris of Oughterard, who with ‘splendid pluck and daring mounted the machine’ and drove it through the streets of the town. Although the noise was terrible, people were excited by the unusual spectacle. Many of them expressed delight to see the man in full control of the machine as he travelled over the ‘rutty’ roads around Tuam.
The following is a technical description of that first motorbike: ‘The transmission of power is affected by means of a springclutch on the engine shaft, driving wheel. A free-wheel clutch is fixed, permitting the Cycle to run down-hill without using the motor. The spring clutch absorbs any jerk on the chains, caused by the engine missing fire, or for any other reason. On the underside of the front brake lever rests a spring, to which is carried one of the electrical primary current wires, so that by slightly raising the lever, the electrical current is broken, thus stopping the engine. On the bracket spindle the second chain wheel is carried by means of a ratchet and pawl, which in engagement, transmits the pedal power of the rider to the engine for starting purposes; when the engine is running, the pawl overruns the ratchet. By means of a small peg set into the pawl at right angles, it is possible to disconnect the engine, and pedal the Cycle (in case of running short of petrol, or other cause) as an ordinary machine’. Some of the local cyclists followed Morris around to see how fast he was going, but quickly realised that they could not keep up with him. The question was asked by many, ‘Is this new cult in motorbikes going to stay?’ One of the most up-to-date experts in cycling matters at the time was heard to say that all who saw the motorbike in action would not accept the machine even as a present. Another man said, ‘Oh, my God, if I had that I could go to Salthill in the morning and be back before breakfast’. The reporter on the scene stated that the motorcycle was a ‘swift method of annihilating distance’. Such were the varied opinions among the crowd, but one question that was answered with certainty was the cult of the motorbike was here to stay.