Rally legends mark Circuit of Kerry’s 50th Anniversary: Full photo album

Rally legends mark Circuit of Kerry’s 50th Anniversary

Photos by Dermot Kelleher

Over 150 rally legends, drivers, organisers, and enthusiasts met at the Rose Hotel on March 8 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Circuit of Kerry Rally.
Tralee Mayor, Cllr. Mikey Sheehy opened the function, welcoming attendees.
Rose Hotel manager, Mark O’Sullivan, addressed the hotel’s long-standing connection to the rally and the significant boost it provides to the local tourism economy, representing the Tralee Chamber Alliance.
The main ballroom was at capacity with over 150 attendees listening to stories from the rally’s 50-year history.
Members of Kerry Motor Club were joined colleagues form Killarney and District Motor Club, Clare Motor Club, and Limerick Motor Club on the night.

International Women’s Day was acknowledged, with current club secretary Christina Fealy detailing her rally office experiences and the behind the scenes work that often goes unseen.
Former secretary Noreen Walsh provided insights into the changes within rally administration over the years.
Chief marshal Marie O’Donoghue discussed her role and how she works with nine different rallies each season recruiting100 of volunteers to make the event happen.
Co-driver Megan Costello shared her family’s involvement in the sport, and spoke about her grandfather Joe’s participation in the inaugural 1975 event, and the upcoming rally where Joe, her father Jason, and her brother Mossie are all competing.
Six local competitors have won the rally since 1975 and four of them took to the stage to tell their stories.
John Crone, the first Kerry Motor Club co-driver to win, navigating for Mike Pattison, returned from Cobh for the occasion. He spoke about the many overseas driver like John Price and locals like Brendan Savage and Fintan Foley that he shared Circuit of Kerry success with.
Paul Nagle, winner in 2004 alongside Donie O’Sullivan, attended, recalling how his win propelled him to a World Rally Championship career.
Co-driver Fionn Foley, winner in 2012, and the most recent local winner, Alan Ring (2015), were also present with Ring telling of the proud moment in 2013 when the rally passed through his hometown of Castleisland when he was the top seed.
The 1996 winning co-driver, MJ Morrissey, attended, sharing memories dating back to the 1976 event.
Morrissey, the current Masters World Rally Champion, having won the FIA title with Eamonn Boland, gave a speech on his association with the rally.
Original organisers, including Clerk of the Course Mike Marshall, Deputy Clerk Rae Kelliher, and RIAC Steward James Doherty, provided a detailed account of the inaugural 1975 event, and received a standing ovation following their interviews.
Past clerks of the course Tom Moriarty, JP Brick, Senan Raggett, Noel O’Connor and Kevin Walsh also attended.
The reunion formed part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations, ahead of the 2025 Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally on March 30.
The evening commenced with a formal launch, where Clerk of the Course Jonathan O’Shea revealed further rally details.
Over 160 entries had been confirmed. A display of Circuit of Kerry memorabilia, including official programmes and photographs fuelled memories of half a century.
The 2025 route includes the classic Camp Mountain stage, a feature of the 1975 rally and a full map of the 1975 route was displayed for the firs time in 50 years.
The Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry is part of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, the Moriarty’s Central Car Sales Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship, and the new Dacia Sandero Rally Cup. Representatives from each championship promoted their series, with particular interest in the Dacia Sandero Rally Cup, explained by championship manager Declan O’Keeffe.
Following the success of the Kerry Winter Rally, the Munster Technological University’s North Campus will host the rally’s service park.

---

---