Connect with us

News

Nagle announces retirement from World Rally Championship

Published

on

0240202_SI201907121085hiresjpeg24bitrgb.jpg

Sean Moriarty

Killarney World Rally Championship co-driver Paul Nagle will retire from the sport later this month.

RETIREMENT: Paul Nagle will retire from the World Rally Championship after the Spanish round alter this month. He is pictured here celebrating his win on on the same event in 2017 Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

RETIREMENT: Paul Nagle will retire from the World Rally Championship after the Spanish round alter this month. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

The Spanish round of the World Championship in Salou later this month will be his last event as a professional co-driver.

The 44-year-old has called time after 18 years in the sport’s top flight.

He has chosen the Rally de Catalunya to bow out as it is a rally he holds very close to his heart.

The Aghadoe man made is WRC debut there in 2004 alongside his friend and neighbour Donie O’Sullivan in a Ford Focus WRC and this set the seed for a career in the sport.

Last weekend’s Rally New Zealand was his 101st event start in the WRC and since his debut 18 years ago he has won five rounds of the series as co-driver to Tyrone’s Kris Meeke.

Their last win together was in Spain in 2017 – another reason Nagle has chosen the October 13 to 16 rally as his last.

Another special Rally RACC Catalunya memory came in 2011 when he and Meeke won their first WRC stage together after topping the time sheets on the event’s PowerStage in front of a live television audience.

More recently Nagle has been co-driver to Waterford’s Craig Breen and the Waterford/Kerry pairing – Ireland’s only full-time crew in the WRC – have finished on the podium no less than six times – the most recent on Rallye Sardinia in June.

Ahead of last weekend’s Rally New Zealand he confided in those closest to him that he would confirm his future plans once he returned to Ireland.

“The time is right,” he said. “I have thought about it long and hard, I just know it's time to go. It has been a huge privilege, the highs outweigh the lows and I have been very lucky to get where I am. I have to give a special mention to Kris Meeke and Craig Breen who shared that journey with me.”

Nagle praised a loyal bunch of family, friends and supporters who have been with him through thick and thin.

His parents Angela and his late father Maurice instilled in him a passion for motorsport.

His wife Cathy is his biggest supporter, and she will take their two sons, Fitz and Leon, to Rally RACC Catalunya next week so they can see Paul in action at a World Championship event for the last time.

He thanked the loyal Kerry followers who have hoisted the tricolour over his rally car many times over the years.

He also thanked his personal sponsor Stephen Ferriter from Mallow Road Motors in Cork who has been by his side for a large portion of his career too.

Advertisement

News

Irish-language short film award added to film festival

Published

on

By

Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) will return to Killarney from October 16 to 19, and this year’s event will include a new award category – Best Irish Language Short Film.


The new award aims to highlight the growing presence of Irish language filmmaking.


It will be judged by Máire Ní Chonláin, TG4 Commissioning Editor and executive producer of An Cailín Ciúin, which was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Academy Awards.


Ní Chonláin brings decades of experience in commissioning, producing and acquiring both scripted and unscripted content.


She co-commissions drama through TG4’s Cine4, Tús, Céim Eile, and Gealán schemes, and is also behind TG4’s long-running country music programming.


KIFF already presents 10 short film awards each year, including Best of Kerry and Best Documentary Short. The new Irish language award adds further recognition for a growing sector in Irish film.


Submissions for this year’s festival close on July 31 via FilmFreeway.


KIFF is supported by Kerry Airport, The Arts Council of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, and a wide range of local businesses.

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Buckley leads National co-drivers’ standings ahead of Sligo Rally

Published

on

By

Buckley leads National co-drivers’ standings ahead of Sligo Rally

Rockfield co-driver Shane Buckley sits at the top of the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship co-driver standings heading into this Sunday’s Sligo Stages Rally.

Buckley, who was due to partner Sam Moffett in a Hyundai i20 R5 in Sligo claimed fourth overall on the Raven’s Rock Rally two weeks ago — a result that pushed him into the lead of the standings with 61 points after four rounds.

However, the championship allows for dropped scores, and when those are applied, Buckley trails rival Tom Murphy by a single point. Murphy has 50 points to Buckley’s 49, meaning the second half of the season is set up for a close title fight.

Sam is now unavailable for the Sligo Rally but Buckley has teamed up with promising Donegal driver David Kelly in a Volkswagen Polo R5. They placed a late entry and will carry 171 on the doors but will run inside the top ten on Sunday.

Several Kerry crews are also entered for the Sligo Rally this weekend. Mike Quinn and Kieran Doherty return in their familiar Mk2 Escort, running in Class 14. Dave Slattery and Denis Coffey, also in a Mk2 Escort, are entered in Class 13.


Mossie Costello, is entered a Fiesta Rally4 and will contest Class 2.


Eugene Buckley and Aaron Williams complete the Kerry Motor Club representation in a Toyota Starlet (Class 9).


Killarney Co-Drivers in Down Rally
While the focus is on Sligo this weekend, two Killarney co-drivers will be in action on Saturday’s Down Rally.


Elaine Ní Shé is navigating for Richard O’Lone in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, and John McCarthy is on the notes for Banbridge’s John Devlin in a Mk2 Escort.

Continue Reading