Strong Kerry presence at Donegal Forestry Rally
Killarney and District Motor Club will be well represented at this Saturday’s Donegal Forestry Rally, the final round of the 2025 Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship.
Leading the local interest is Shane Buckley, who resumes his partnership with Donegal driver David Kelly in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
The pair have enjoyed a strong season so far, taking two fifth-place finishes on their most recent outings at the Bushwhacker Rally and the Lakeland Rally.
Beaufort’s Diarmuid Falvey returns to forestry action for the first time since 2007.
He will contest the event alongside his brother-in-law Gary Reidy in a Ford Fiesta R5. Also featuring on the entry list is Killarney and District Motor Club co-driver Ciara Griffin, who lines up alongside Aaron Martley in a Mitsubishi Evo 9.
Rathmore school teacher Declan Casey will star the rally as newly crowned Irish Forest Rally 2WD Champion alongside his Hugh McQuaid in a Ford Escort Mk2.
The bulk of the Killarney interest is in the Junior 1000 section, where several experienced Kerry co-drivers are helping the next generation of young rally drivers gain valuable experience. Donegal’s Sam Gorman will be guided by Killarney co-driver Niall Myers in a Nissan Micra J1000, while KDMC2 Youth Programme member Frank Wharton will compete in a Toyota Aygo with Kerry Motor Club’s Denny Greaney navigating.
The all-Killarney pairing of David Slattery and Ger Somers will take part in a Hyundai i10, while James Spillane, another KDMC2 driver, is teamed with Kerry Motor Club’s Maurice McElligott in a Seat Mii.
Aidan O’Leary and John Falvey complete the local Junior 1000 entry in their Toyota Aygo.
There is also a Kerry link among three Junior competitors chasing Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series points, as all three drivers have a Kerry grandmother. Oran England from Meath, with Darragh Mullen co-driving, starts in a Ford Fiesta, while Donegal’s Jack Harris, with Aaron O’Regan on the notes, also competes in a Fiesta. Jack Kennedy from Wexford, partnered by Dylan Harrington, completes the trio in another Fiesta.
The Donegal Forestry Rally takes place this Saturday and marks one of the final gravel events of the Irish rallying season.
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