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INTERNATIONAL rally drivers Paul Nagle, Rob Duggan, Ger Conway and Noel O’Sullivan Junior have motored into the spotlight to take on the coveted role of grand marshals of this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.

Paul Nagle is the current World Rally Car co-driver with the Citroen World Rally Team. He co-drives with Northern Irish man Kris Meeke. Following a very successful 2015 where they won the event in Argentina and came second in the UK rally, 2016 saw podium wins at Rally Portugal and Rally Finland.

Ger Conway and Rob Duggan won the 2016 British Junior Championship for Vauxhall UK. They also drove for this team on the world championship round at Wales Rally GB and finished off the year by taking the modified win at our home rally the Killarney Historic stages. Previously Ger and Rob secured the Billy Coleman award for the best up-and-coming rally drivers and in 2013 Rob became Irish national junior champion and in 2015 Northern Irish junior champion.

In 2017 Ger and Rob are competing in the World Junior championship, starting in April in Corsica and then taking in rounds in Sardinia, Poland, Finland, Germany and Spain. “All this wouldn't be possible without our sponsors, family and supporters. Some of our long supporting sponsors are, Rentokil Initial Ireland, O Sullivan's Cycles, Killarney, Eagers Newsagents, Killarney, and Mike Moriartys Centra Farranfore,” they said.

Noel O'Sullivan Jnr is co-driver to Jon Armstrong from Fermanagh. In 2016 they won the Drive D Mac Fiesta Trophy which is held over five rounds of the WRC. This competition aims to introduce the best up and coming young drivers to the challenges of a world championship event.

We are sure to hear more from these world champions in the coming years.
 

 
Above: The grand marshals of this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade are international rally drivers Paul Nagle, current World Rally Car co-driver with the Citroen World Rally Team, third left, Ger Conway, first left, Rob Duggan, fourth left, and Noel O'Sullivan Junior. Also pictured is Anne Marie Kennelly, chairperson, Patrick’s Festival Cill Áirne, and Paul O’Neill, president, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce. PICTURE: VALERIE O’SULLIVAN