The Rose Hotel Kerry Winter Stages Rally officially launched at the Rally HQ
There was a large crowd in attendance on Wednesday night for the official launch of the 2024 Rose Hotel Kerry Winter Stages Rally.
Further details of the event were revealed at today’s launch. The rally will be held in the Castleisland area on Sunday, November 3, with a centralised service area in the North Campus of the Munster Technological University in Tralee.
The rally will be based out of the Rose Hotel in Tralee which is also providing title sponsorship of the event.
Organisers Kerry Motor Club confirmed that a capacity 140-car entry will contest the event and released the seeded entry list.
Returning to defend his crown is Richard Moffett, who won the last running of the event back in 2022.
Top local crews who will be attempting to win bragging rights include the 2023 Killarney Historic Rally modified winner Rob Duggan, and the 2024 Rally of the Lakes modified winner Colin O’Donoghue.
The top Kerry Motor Club seed is Conor Murphy in another Ford Escort Mk2.
They will all face stiff competition from the likes of Rob Duggan and former winner Mike Quinn while Limerick’s Chris O’Callaghan could also be in with a shout following the day’s six tricky stages.
Interesting entries include Declan Wilmott, who won the event in 1991 he returns to the Kingdon for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Three generations of the Costello family from Ballybunnion will tackle the event. Joe Costello will mark his first start since the 1985 Rally of the Lakes in the same Ford Escort he parked up 39 years ago.
His son Jason is also on the entry list, and Jason’s son and daughter Mossie and Megan are also competing.
Speaking at the launch, 2024 Rose Hotel Kerry Winter Stages Rally Clerk of the Course Sean Hegarty said: “We are now in advanced preparations for the event time. There has been a lot of work put into the event for a large number of people and I’m grateful for everyone’s help in putting the rally together.
“It should be a great day’s motorsport, with a tricky route that should test driver and machine”
The Clerk of the Course also thanked the rally’s sponsors The Rose Hotel along with associate sponsors Kelliher’s Toyota and Kerry Motor Works as well the staff at MTU Kerry and Shannon Commercial Enterprise for the use of the area for service.
“Safety is our top priority and I plead to spectators to co-operate with the rally officials and marshals, heed warning signs and respect the residents on the stages because without their co-operation the event could not take place,” he added.
The rally is a counting round for the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, Moriarty’s Central Car Sale Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship, and the Ace Signs Southern 4 Rally Championship.
ENTRY LIST
1 Richard Moffett Darragh Kelly Toyota Starlet RWD 14
2 Robert Duggan Ger Conway Ford Escort 14
3 Conor Murphy Sean Collins Ford Escort 14
4 Christopher O’Callaghan Dale McGettigan Ford Escort Mk2 14
5 Colin O’Donoghue Kieran O’Donoghue Ford Escort Mk2 14
6 Ryan Loughran Tony Healy Ford Escort 14
7 Jonathan Pringle Pierce O’Callaghan Ford Escort 14
8 Johno Doogan Paul Lennon Ford Escort Mk2 14
9 Michael Carbin Dean O’Sullivan Ford Escort 14
10 Enda O’Brien John Butler Ford Escort 14
11 Mike Quinn Kieran Doherty Ford Escort Mk2 14
12 John Warren Ruthann O’Connor Toyota Corolla Twincam 13
14 Ed Synan JJ Cremin Ford Escort 14
15 Paul Purtill TBA Ford Escort 13
16 Patrick McHugh Pauric O’Donnell Ford Escort Mk2 14
17 Vincent O’Shea Eoin O’Donoghue Darrian T90 GTR 14
18 Michael Cahill Killian McArdle Ford Escort Mk2 14
19 Dave Slattery Denis Coffey Ford Escort Mk2 13
20 Denis Hickey Eoin O’Leary Ford Escort Mk2 14
21 Kevin Kelleher Ronan Comerford Ford Escort Mk2 14
22 Aaron Browne Derry Long Ford Fiesta 2
23 Mark Dolphin Karl Egan Ford Escort 14
24 Johnny O’Connor Michael Breen Ford Escort Mk2 14
25 Colin Moynihan Liam Moynihan Ford Escort 13
26 Tim Enright Stephen Buckley Ford Escort 13
27 Kevin O’Donoghue Dylan Harrington BMW E30 14
28 Leonard Downey Mark Murphy Ford Escort RS 14
29 Tadhg O’Sullivan Keith McCarthy Ford Escort 14
30 Robbie Allen Emer Kearns Ford Escort Mk2 13
31 Darren Young Sean Walsh Honda Civic 11F
32 Colin Flanagan Kevin Reilly Mitsubishi Evo 10 20
33 Alan Ring Adrian Deasy Subaru Legacy RS 19
34 John O’Donnell Paddy Robinson BMW M3 19
35 Jason O’Mahony Jonathan O’Mahony Ford Escort 13
36 Jack Kelleher TBA Ford Escort Mk2 14
37 James Cassidy Domhnall Lennon Ford Escort 12
38 Tommy Mason Paul McGlinchey Ford Escort 12
39 Sean Enright Kevin Doherty Ford Escort Mk2 12
40 Charlie Hickey Ronald Riordan Ford Escort 13
41 Denis Moynihan Martin O’Brien Ford Escort 13
42 In memory of Craig Breen
43 Fergus O’Meara TBA Ford Escort RS1800 18
44 Kenneth Cullinane Robert O’Regan Ford Escort 13
45 Conor Walsh Sean Mulvihill Ford Escort Mk2 12
46 Raymond O’Neill Jason O’Connor Ford Escort Mk2 13
47 Brian Hickey Noel Murphy Ford Escort Mk2 14
48 Niall O’Connell Charlie McEnery Citroen C2 R2 MAX 11F
49 Pat Kelly Jonathan Kelly Ford Fiesta 5
50 Peadar Walsh Grace Walsh Ford Escort 18
51 Maurice Meskell Stephen Meskell Ford Escort Mk1 18
52 Ray Hilliard Senan Raggett Ford Escort Mk1 18
53 Cathal McCarthy Ciara Griffin Honda Civic 11F
54 Barry O’Brien Declan Buttimer Honda Civic 11F
55 Patrick Bonner Brian Commons Ford Escort 12
56 Mick Lonergan Áine Phelan Honda Civic Type R 11F
57 John Hayes Andy Hayes Ford Fiesta Rally3 4
58 Cyril Wharton Donal Falvey Ford Escort 13
59 Colin Roche Eoin Collins Toyota Starlet RWD 13
60 Adrian Randles Denny Greaney Ford Escort 13
61 Paul Cullen Brian Rowan Opel Corsa 10
62 Sean Hartnett Timmy Murphy Ford Escort 13
63 Ger O’Brien John Liston Ford Escort 13
64 Martin Quirke Bríd Murphy Talbot Sunbeam 11R
65 John Michael Kennelly Liam Callaghan Ford Escort Mk2 13
66 Craig Macwilliam Guy Macwilliam Ford Escort RS1600 18
67 Peter Keohane Brian Keohane Ford Escort RS 13
68 Pat Ryan Jack Dalton Ford Escort Mk2 9
69 Eamonn Barrett Ger Ryan Ford Escort Mk2 9
70 Gary Healy Niall Myers Honda Civic EK4 11F
71 John Hickey Michelle Hickey Ford Escort 9
72 Mossie Costello Megan Costello Ford Fiesta Rally 4 2
73 Paul Ahern Kieran Murphy BMW M3 18
74 Aidan Long Rory O’Donoghue Subaru GC8 group A 15
75 James Kissane Tim Kissane Ford Escort Mk2 11R
76 Sean Hickey Noel Fleming Toyota Starlet RWD 12
77 Declan Wilmott Kieran Bailey Ford Escort Mk2 12
78 Colm Browne Michael Browne Ford Escort G3 12
79 Jason Costello TBA Ford Escort Mk2 11R
80 Mike Reddy Maurice McElligott Ford Escort Mk2 12
81 Kenneth Ryan Garry Carroll Ford Escort 13
82 Mike Neligan John Hurley Toyota Corolla Twin Cam 11R
83 Mike Walsh Caz Somers Ford Escort Mk2 12
84 Derek Flynn Ciara O’Connell Honda Civic EK4 2A
85 Donagh Crowley Denis Nagle Ford Escort Mk2 11R
86 Tomas Ryan Joey Lyons Honda Civic 11F
87 Martin Casey Jared Gill Honda Civic EK4 11F
88 Sean Fergus Cian Lynch Honda EG6 11F
89 Eamonn McCarthy Lisa McCarthy Honda Civic 11F
90 Tim O’Donovan Vinny Bennett Toyota Corolla Twincam 11R
91 Ronan Lacey DJ Howard Honda EG 16
92 Barry McIntyre TBA Honda Civic 16
93 Jack Hallahan David Rea Honda Civic 16
94 Morgan Dempsey Garret Burke Mitsubishi Evo 8 20
95 Patrick Slattery Anthony McCarthy Subaru Impreza 15
96 Michael (ray) Stack Gene Stack Ford Escort 13
97 Damien Connell Gary McWalter Honda Civic EK4 11F
98 Evan Maher Brian O’Connell Honda Civic 1.6VTI 11F
99 Ollie Kierce Mike Cleary Ford Escort 10
100 Paul Casey Vincent Goggin Ford Escort 12
101 Daniel O’Connor Micheal O’Shea Honda Civic 16
102 Graham Roche Trevor Roche Honda Civic 16
103 Michael Murphy Andrew Murphy Toyota Corolla GT 11R
104 David Leslie Melissa Leslie Ford Escort RS Mk2 12
105 Mike Dolan Katarzyna Galinska Honda Civic 11F
106 Colin Neligan Henry Jennings Ford Fiesta 11F
107 Hugh Sheehan Declan Casey Honda EG6 11F
108 Chris Campbell Sean Campbell Honda Civic 11F
109 Brian Grant Andrew Purser Ford Fiesta Rally 4 2
110 Gary Lordan Alan O’Farrell Honda Civic 9
111 Sam Leech Ava O’Driscoll Honda EP3 3
112 Michael Lucey Darragh Lynch Honda Civic 11F
113 John Cullinane Jack Cullinane Peugeot 205 RWD 13
114 Colin Mullins Shane Mullins Honda Civic EK4 11F
115 Cyril Casey Killian Cronin Ford Fiesta 2A
116 Ken McKenna Ray McKenna Peugeot 205 GTi 10
117 Ger Cullinane Nigal O’Sullivan Honda Civic 11F
118 Luke Caplice Sean Mitchell Honda Civic 11R
119 Kieran O’Neill TBA Ford Escort Mk2 12
120 Ross Ryan James Deane Ford Ford Fiesta R2T 2A
121 David Griffin Shay Griffin Toyota Corolla GT 17
122 Michelle Quinn Tina Quinn Honda Civic 1.6VTI 2A
123 Catherine Walsh Angiee Michniewicz Honda Civic 16
124 Gerard Dineen Anthony Madigan Toyota Starlet 13
125 Patrick Calnan Amy Gallwey Honda Civic Type R 3
126 Tom O’Sullivan Mark O’Sullivan Peugeot 205 GTi 10
127 Mick Dineen Shane O’Mahony Toyota Corolla 10
128 Maurice Browne Chris Browne Ford Escort Mk2 12
129 Sean Cahill Jamie Quinn Proton Satria 2A
130 Shane Collins Denny O’Riordan Honda Civic 1
131 Richard Hickey Richie Davis Toyota Corolla 11R
132 Timmy Finnegan Sean Durkin Honda Civic 11F
133 Declan Hagan Shane Hagan Ford Escort Mk2 10
134 Pat Calnan Ray Shanahan Ford Fiesta 2A
135 Grainne Caplis Lauren Doherty Vauxhall Corsa B 10
136 Eugene Buckley Ben Odwyer Toyota Ep91 9
137 Eoin Cullinane Darragh McElroy Honda Civic EK4 11F
138 Micheal O’Donovan George Swanton Ford Fiesta 2
139 Dylan Doonan Gary Lombard Peugeot 106 GTi 16
140 Francis Kelly Michelle Horan Renault Clio 3
141 Shane O’Connor Dan Roche Ford Escort 11R
142 Matthew Byrne TBA Honda Civic EK4 16
Reserves
143 Ken Lyons Paddy McDonnell Ford Escort 13
144 Eddie Kennelly Mollie Kennelly Ford Escort Mk2 11R
145 John O’Flaherty Patrick Lawlor Ford Escort Mk2 11R
146 Donagh Kelly Rory Kennedy BMW M3 18
147 Mikey P Kelleher William Buttimer Ford Escort Mk2 10
148 Richard Moore Enda Kennedy Ford Escort Mk2 14
149 Eamonn Kelly Conor Mohan Ford Fiesta 3
150 Cian Hynes Cathal Fallon Honda Civic EK4 16
151 Joseph Costello TBA Ford Escort Mk2 11R
Kerry Motorsport News 