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Vintage club begin fundraising restoration project

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A local vintage club has revealed the four Kerry-based charities that will benefit from its annual car raffle fundraiser.

Club members from Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club (KVCVC) are in the process of restoring a 1982 Toyota Starlet and one lucky winner will be the proud owner of the classic car by the end of the year.

Proceeds from the €10 ticket sales will be going to charities Cuan Mhuire, the Killarney branch of the Irish Kidney Association, Killarney Valley AC and cancer support charity, Recovery Haven Kerry.

The project’s main sponsors are Kelliher’s Toyota Kerry and Lee Strand as well as local firms including Tricel, Paul Fitzgerald Builder Providers, O'Callaghan Coach Holidays, Humphrey Kerins Crash Repair, Castleisland Tyre Centre, O’Sullivan Darcy Engineering, Torc Engineering, Fred Cronin Tralee and Smart Loans.

The Killarney Advertiser is the official media partner of the project.

“The support of such reputable Kerry companies has been hugely appreciated and the club thank them for their overwhelming generosity in every aspect of the project. Their commitment and help means that even more money can be raised for this year’s chosen charities – the primary aim of the project,” said club PRO Tom Leslie.

“For the coming weeks and months, the club’s members will continue to work on the car at its premises at Upper Lewis Road beside the Ross Café, which is provided to the club by Kerry Mental Health Association.”

Once the car restoration is complete, an official launch will take place at Kelliher’s Toyota in Tralee at the end of May, after which the raffle tickets will go on sale.

Anyone interested in helping with the project can contact the club through their Facebook page or just pop in and meet members at their Lewis Road premises every Thursday night.

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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