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Killarney and District Motor Club held the official launch to the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes 2018 last Sunday at the Brehon Hotel. There were some beautiful rally cars on display and a large crowd in attendance.

Officials, organisers, sponsors, distinguished guest speakers such as TD brothers Michael and Danny Healy Rae, Councillor Michael Gleeson, WRC co-driver Paul Nagle and dignitaries of Killarney town were on hand to support the event. The MC on the night was non-other than Mike Marshall, event COC of 25 years, and he introduced Paul O’Neill of Killarney’s Chamber of Tourism and Commerce who spoke of how important the Rally of the Lakes is to Killarney Town, bringing a welcomed boost to the local economy.

The Mayor of Killarney, Niall Kelleher, also spoke on the commitment and dedication of the voluntary club members involved and their ability to host an event of this magnitude every year. Other guest speakers included John Byrne of Cartell.ie, Brian McArdle of Ordnance Survey Ireland, Kieran Healy of KC Print/Killarney Advertiser and Patrick O’Donoghue of the Gleneagle Hotel Group who have been involved since the rally’s first inception in 1979.

Killarney & District Motor Club, organisers of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes, have announced details of this year’s event which will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 4-6.

The 39^th Rally of the Lakes will be counting rounds of the:

• Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
• ie Southern 4 Rally Championship
• Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship.

Killarney businessman Dermot Healy has taken on the role of COC for his sixth year. Dermot, who is very much respected in the town of Killarney for his incredible voluntary and charity work, has put together a strong organising committee and operations are well under way.

Heading the international entry list is last year’s winner, Sam Moffett, who is likely to start the event in the top slot. Local co-driver Noel O’Sullivan takes up the hot seat alongside Sam for the first time and will be hopeful for his first overall win. Behind him comes a host of WRC machinery with two times Lakes winner Donagh Kelly, along with Roy White and Declan Boyle who have led this event in the past.

Donegal man Manus Kelly has shown interest in this year’s event and he will be a great addition to the line up. Irish Tarmac Championship leader Josh Moffett arrives in Killarney on top form with recent back to back wins on both the West Cork and Easter Stages rallies. Other Top R5 competitors include Robert Barrable, who was second overall last year, five-time Irish Tarmac champion Eugene Donnelly in his Hyundai I20 R5, Stephen Wright and Jonny Greer, both in their Ford Fiestas, along with Desi Henry in his new Skoda Fabia R5.

Top Local crew Daniel Cronin/Shane Buckley have had a great start to their Irish Tarmac Championship campaign having recently acquired the ultimate Ford Fiesta from M-Sport and he will be anxious to make his mark on the home event. The field will also include Killarney regulars Joe Connolly and Keith Lyons amongst the R5 cars.

In the National Rally, all the big Escort brigade come out to play but perhaps the person who will cause them most bother is from Donegal, as last year’s Modified winner Kevin Eves returns in his Toyota Corolla 2.5. He has put in such an incredible drive and category win on both the West Cork and Easter Stages rallies to lead the championship heading for Killarney. Local man Rob Duggan, fresh from a win in the Killarney Historic Rally in December, has hired an ultimate 2.5 Escort and will be hard to beat over the classic stages. Barry Meade is a previous Modified winner and will be incredibly quick also. Past winner Wesley Patterson will be a strong contender, as will the legendary Phil Collins who makes the trip from Herefordshire to the stages he loves so well and where he has enjoyed considerable success over the past 32 years. Other top entries include Vincent McSweeney, Jack Newman, Gary Kiernan, Liam Howlett, John O’Donnell, Enda O’Brien and Eugene Megan.

The battle for the John Mullane Cup for the highest placed driver from Co. Kerry will be as closely contested as it has been since the award was first introduced in the very early days of the Rally of the Lakes. Top crews include Charlie Hickey, Kevin O’Donoghue, Denis Hickey, Tadgh O’Sullivan, Fergus O’Meara, John Hickey, Ed Murphy, Con Lucey,  Noel O’Sullivan and Vincent O’Shea.

A strong Historic & Junior Entry has already been received. The Historics will contest the whole event, while the juniors will contest the rally on Saturday.

The May Bank Holiday weekend is near and the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes is the place to be. Are you ready?