Connect with us

News

Moll’s Gap goes digital in new rally simulator video game

Published

on

VIRTUAL REALITY: Digital Motorsports founder Niall Maher driving the Moll's Gap stage on a computer simulator.

EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

 

The Moll’s Gap road - famous as a stage in the Rally of the Lakes and the old Circuit of Ireland Rally - has been digitally mastered into a video game and will be made available to gaming and rally fans all over the world.

The 18km stage, which runs from the Dinis Cottage entrance to the National Park almost to Kenmare, is the most famous rally road in Ireland. The road, that climbs up past Ladies View and along the shores of Muckross Lake, the Upper Lake and Looscaunagh Lough, is both loved and revered by rally drivers from all over the world.

The digital adaption of the famous road has been made possible by Kildare-based Digital Motorsports – the same firm that digitally mastered Mondello Park as part of the circuit’s 50th anniversary in 2018.

Company co-founder Niall Maher explained to the Killarney Advertiser how he gathered data from several sources including on-board videos of previous rallies, Ordnance Survey maps, Google Maps data, and GPS taken from rally cars and timing trackers.

“Once we did Mondello, there was only one other next step, and that was Moll’s Gap," he told the Killarney Advertiser.

“The way the world is going now, we are hoping to open it up to a whole generation that might never have been to the ‘Gap’ before."

[caption id="attachment_36294" align="alignleft" width="532"] HOW IT MIGHT LOOK: A virtual rally car on the Moll's Gap stage.[/caption]

The video game is suitable for the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform, a racing simulator that is popular with professional racing drivers who want to learn various tracks.

“Anyone who is serious into their racing simulation will know that as a gaming title,” added Maher.

In time it will be made available on the Richard Burns RBR Rally Pro platform making the simulation more accessible to gaming and rally fans all over the world.

The final product is not quite finished and while the road and undulations are as close as possible to realistic, some fine tuning by rally drivers familiar with the stage are needed and it's expected to be officially launched in mid- April.

Once that is completed the developers will add what they call street furniture and landmarks like Derrycunnihy Church.

Advertisement

News

€1m EuroMillions win still unclaimed at Centra The Reeks

Published

on

By

€1m EuroMillions win at Centra The Reeks

Anthony O’Connor, Ciaran Culloty, Conor Healy, Elizabeth Nagle, and representatives from the National Lottery


Celebrations are underway in Killarney after Centra at The Reeks Gateway on Tralee Road sold a EuroMillions ticket worth €1,005,000 in the Friday, August 21 draw.


The lucky winner secured the life-changing sum through the special Ireland Only Raffle event after purchasing a Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw.
Store owner John Bowler, who has operated the shop for over 20 years, expressed his delight after receiving the news from the National Lottery.
“There’s a great buzz around the store and we’re absolutely delighted,” Bowler said. “We have a mix of local customers and visitors coming through our doors every day, so the winner could be anyone. While we’ve sold fantastic prizes over the years, this is by far the biggest. It’s wonderful news for Killarney.”
National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan urged anyone who bought a ticket at the store on Friday to check their numbers carefully. The ticket holder is advised to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact the National Lottery prize claims team to arrange collection.
All photos: Eamonn Keogh

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Pig’s Lane crowned Bar of the Year

Published

on

By


Pig’s Lane crowned Bar of the Year


Killarney’s subterranean venue Pig’s Lane emerged as a triple winner at the Bar of the Year 2026 Awards in Dublin on Monday night.


The College Street venue was named overall Bar of the Year, alongside taking Gold for both Cocktail Bar of the Year and Best Designed Bar / Inside Space. The announcements were made at a gala ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road.
Operating under the family-run O’Donoghue Ring Collection, the underground cocktail bar and whiskey parlour opened in 2023. The venue previously secured Innovative Bar of the Year in 2024 and Best Designed Bar in 2025 before taking the top national prize this year.
Judges praised the venue for its “unmatched excellence across the board”. The broader O’Donoghue Ring Collection earned eight finalist nominations across three properties, including Café du Parc and The Kenmare Rooms.
“We are so proud to be crowned Ireland’s Bar of the Year 2026,” said founder Gemma Ring. “A huge amount of work, creativity, and passion goes into everything we do”.
Pig’s Lane derives its name from the historic 1800s designation for the thoroughfare connecting College Street to Railway Road. On September 11, the bar will host a collaborative evening featuring Michelin Bib Gourmand tapas from Dingle’s Solas paired with bespoke cocktails.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport