Craig Breen has coaxed Paul Nagle out of retirement for next month’s Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally.

Rentokil Initial managing director Michael O'Mahoney with Kerry MaryJo Aaron and Michelle O'Mahoney at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Garda Danny O'Mahony Liam Cronin (Deputy Clerk of the Course) Rentokil Initial managing director Michael O'Mahoney Diarmuid Lynch Inspector Gary Carroll Anthony O'Connor (Clerk of the Course) Paul Nagle and Dan Keane (Chairman Killarney and District Motor Club) at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Dermot Healy Rentokil Initial managing director Michael O'Mahoney Patrick O'Donoghue (Gleneagle Group MD) and Diarmuid Lynch at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Rentokil Initial managing director Michael O'Mahoney centre with brothers Charlie and John Hickey at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Killarney and District Motor Club will host the event on Friday December 2 and Saturday December 3. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Conlaoch Kelleher at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Bob Moran Denis Cronin Noel O'Sullivan Junior and Noel O'Sullivan Senior at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Popular rally drivers Charlie Hickey Killarney and Tommy Randles Kilgarvan at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Tommy Randles Kevin O'Donoghue Deputy Danny Healy Rae TD and Charlie Hickey at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

entokil Initial managing director Michael O'Mahoney and Anthony O'Connor (Clerk of the Course) with Inspector Gary Carroll Dan Keane (Chairman Killarney and District Motor Club) Mayor of Killarney Niall Kelleher Deputy Danny Healy Rae TD Garda Danny O'Mahony and members of Killarney and District Motor Club at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Killarney and District Motor Club will host the event on Friday December 2 and Saturday December 3. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

John Murphy Pat Walsh Rentokil Initial managing director Michael O'Mahoney Ted O'Gorman and Aodh Lynch at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

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Cyril Wharton Ted O'Gorman and Diarmuid Cronin at the launch of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney on Sunday. Photo:Eamonn Keogh

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The Aghadoe man made the announcement at the rally’s official launch at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney on Sunday.

In October Nagle announced his retirement from the World Rally Championship.

He was in Japan this week to complete the handover to Breen’s new co-driver James Fulton and returned to Ireland on Sunday just in time for the launch.

The 2021 event winners will drive the Ford Sierra Cosworth that Frank Meagher drove to victory in the 1992 Circuit of Ireland Rally.

The late Tipperary driver was Breen’s childhood rally hero and he recently completed a full restoration of the Sierra.

The Killarney rally will be the car’s first appearance since the restoration.

“We are looking forward to going out for a big battle with some local drivers," Nagle said.

Killarney and District Motor Club confirmed at the launch that it had received 230 entries for the 150 available spaces.

Sunday’s launch was attended by several dignitaries including TD Danny Healy Rae and Niall Kelleher who is the Mayor of the Killarney Municipal District and president of the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.

“This event is a great advertisement for Killarney; the exposure it gives and the much-needed business at a quieter time of the year," Mr Kelleher said.

"To those visiting our town please do enjoy yourselves."

Echoing those words Healy-Rae said: “This is a great event for the town of Killarney, coming at the dead end of the year, and it gives great exposure for the County of Kerry.”

Club chair Dan Keane welcomed the politicians’ support for the rally.

“It is hugely important that elected officials recognise the importance of motorsport in Ireland,” he said.

Garda Gary Carroll of the Kerry Roads Policing Division was there to bring a road safety message to the large group of rally fans who attended the event.

“Keep the race in the place,” he said. “This is a wonderful event and adds to the town of Killarney and County Kerry.”