A Who is Who of Circuit of Kerry Rally drivers and organisers are expected at the 50th-anniversary reunion in the Rose Hotel on March 8.

Since 1975, the rally has seen six local winners.
John Crone, the first Kerry Motor Club co-driver to win (1989), navigating for Mike Pattison, will return from Cobh.
A well-known photographer, some of Crone’s work from Kerry rallies in the 70s and 80s will be displayed.
Killarney’s Donie O’Sullivan, who with Paul Nagle won in 2004, will attend. Later that year the Ford Focus WRC crew competed on Rallye Catalunya in Spain and that rally propelled Nagle to a career in the World Rally Championship,
Thomas Fitzmaurice and Fionn Foley, winners in 2012, and the latest local victor, Alan Ring (2015), will also be present.
Cork’s Ger Buckley, the most successful driver in the rally’s history (1976, 77, 79, 80 and 81). Although Ger is not yet confirmed, members of the Buckley family will be there to represent the Banteer man.
Buckley’s last win in 1981 was at the wheel of a Vauxhall Chevette HSR, a car that has its own Circuit of Kerry history. It was subsequently owned by Demi Fitzgerald, who won the rally in the same car in 1982 and 1983. The fully restored Chevette, in Buckley’s iconic colours, will be on display.
1996 winners Stephen Murphy and MJ Morrisey will also attend.
Morrisey’s connection goes back to the second-ever Circuit of Kerry in 1976 when his name was on the entry list. He is the current Masters World Rally Champion, having clinched that official FIA title alongside Eamonn Boland last year.
Original organisers, including Clerk of the Course Mike Marshall and Deputy Clerk Rae Kelliher, are confirmed.
The reunion is part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations, kicking off with a launch event at the Rose Hotel on March 8 at 6 pm. The 2025 Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally takes place on March 30.
extra special, marking the 50th anniversary of the rally’s start back in 1975.
There is an open invitation to everyone involved with the Circuit of Kerry since 1975 – past competitors, organisers, marshals, fans, and anyone with a connection to the event to attend the launch and reunion on March 8 at the Rose Hotel from 6 pm to 9 pm.
The evening will begin with a formal launch where clerk of the course Jonathan O’Shea and his organising team will announce further details of the rally.
This will be followed by an informal reunion in Dott’s Bat in the hotel later that evening.
A display of Circuit of Kerry memorabilia, including official programmes and other items of interest, will be on show, and the club encourages attendees to bring along any memorabilia they might have to share.
The 2025 route will revisit the classic Camp Mountain stage, a key part of the original 1975 rally.
The Circuit of Kerry is part of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, and the Moriarty’s Central Car Sales Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship. The rally will also host the new Dacia Sandero Rally Cup.
Following the success of the Kerry Winter Rally in November, the North Campus of the Munster Technological University will host the rally’s service park.

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Legion GAA Club have led the tributes to Johnny Culloty, the Kerry football great who was laid to rest on Thursday.

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce expressed its condolences to the family, friends, and clubmates of the late Johnny Culloty, a GAA legend and one of the town’s greatest sportsmen.

Culloty was proud of Killarney and contributed to the development of young players. The Chamber noted the Culloty family’s presence in Killarney’s commercial life, with sons Donal and Seanie running businesses.

“Everybody of a certain vintage will know all about Johnny Culloty’s prowess as a footballer, a hurler, a basketball player, a rower in regattas and as a golfer. No doubt, those that are still too young, will read all about him in the sporting annals in the years to come,” the Chamber said.

“He was undoubtedly one of the greatest sportspeople this town has ever produced and we don’t see his likes too often. Many tributes have been paid to Johnny since his passing and it is clear that he will be remembered as a true genius on the field and a pure gentleman off it.”

Legion GAA Club, where Culloty was a Vice President, also paid tribute.
PRO Enda Walshe said:

“Killarney Legion GAA are saddened to hear of the passing of Johnny Culloty. And while that honour [of Vice President ] fell to Johnny in later years it was his lifelong achievements that made him stand out as arguably the town’s greatest achiever in the colours of Kerry.”

Culloty won five All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals and captained Kerry to victory in 1969and became the first Killarney Legion man to bring the Sam Maguire Cup to Killarney.. He won numerous Munster titles. Initially a forward, he transitioned to goalkeeper after a knee injury. He also won National Hurling League titles and an All-Ireland Junior medal.

After his playing career, Culloty managed Kerry to three National League titles and a Munster Championship. He later served as a selector. He also played basketball for the Busby Babes.

“While all his achievements at National level are well documented it would be incalculable to even attempt to measure his influence within Killarney Legion,” Walshe said. “I remember a period when the club Under 14 boys team won seven East Kerry titles in a row in the 1980s, all coached by Johnny.

“At the time the juvenile players may not have been aware of the enormity of their coaches reputation throughout the country and Johnny certainly didn’t broadcast it either, given his modest and unassuming manner. But what he did pass on was his huge understanding of the game and his astuteness always stood out.”

Both organisations expressed sympathies to his wife, Joan, sons Donal and Seanie, daughters Brid and Orla, his in-laws, grandchildren, relatives, and friends.

Requiem Mass was held at St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday morning, followed by burial in Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.