OPINION: Constructive Input Needed Before Events, Not Unacceptable Abuse on the Ground

OPINION: Constructive Input Needed Before Events, Not Unacceptable Abuse on the Ground

There is no getting away from the fact that the service park for Saturday’s An Grianán Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally was far from ideal. However, looking at the situation objectively, it is important to understand how things reached that point.

When pre-event preparations were underway and the safety plan was being drawn up back in August, the chosen location at Inch Level was dry and rock-solid. On paper, it was a sizeable site capable of accommodating the 150 service vans, trucks, and rally cars expected for a national event.

Torrential rain in the lead-up to the rally changed everything, turning portions of the field into a quagmire. The loss of several hundred square metres to mud inevitably created severe congestion. Mechanics and crews faced a tough day, but through patience and compromise, the event pressed on and ran smoothly on the stages.

What proved far more frustrating was the reaction from some quarters during the event. Several individuals were quick to point out the venue’s shortcomings on Saturday, casually listing alternative locations nearby that could have been used instead. Incredibly, some of those complaining were Donegal Motor Club members themselves.

That raises an obvious question: why were these alternatives not brought to the planning table months ago?

Finding a Clerk of the Course and a volunteer team willing to take on the massive responsibility of running a national rally is difficult enough. The earlier people contribute their knowledge and local solutions during pre-event planning, the easier that job becomes.

The reality of modern Irish rallying is that our traveling circus has grown to an immense scale. Finding a hard-standing or grass venue anywhere in the country large enough to accommodate over 150 service setups is becoming increasingly difficult, not just in Donegal, but nationwide.

However, the most unacceptable aspect of the weekend occurred off the stages entirely. On Friday, a marshal spent his whole day in the service park doing his level best to manage the space, direct traffic, and accommodate arriving service crews. In return for his volunteer effort, he was verbally threatened by a handful of individuals, including explicit threats of physical violence.

Threatening a volunteer marshal who has given up his time so others can go rallying is utterly unhinged.

If you were one of the people making those threats, let there be no mistake: you have no place in Irish rallying. Stay at home next time. That kind of behaviour is not welcome, and your absence will free up a little more service space for the rest of us.

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