PICTURES | Excitement building as Longford braces itself for the return of top class rally action

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Midland Motor Club held its Rally launch on Sunday, February 9 at rally HQ the Longford Arms Hotel attended by a huge number of rally enthusiasts and supporters. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Club Chairperson Vincent Collins welcomed all to the launch and spoke in particular about Jeremy O’Connor (former rally clerk of the course & club member) who sadly passed away in June 2024 and what he meant to the club, as an official and a friend also, Jeremy’s family attended the launch. 

Cyril Rollins Clerk of the course gave a brief outline of the event and thanked all sponsors, in particular Orlagh Reynolds from the Longford Arms Hotel and Paul Rowley from Admore Air Conditioning. 

Inspector Declan McGlynn spoke briefly about the role of the Gardai on a week-end of the rally and they will have a high profile on the roads during the rally week-end. He wished the organisers well and asked that rally fans drive safely and enjoy the rally. All championship sponsors were in attendance for the launch giving their support for the rally.   

With just weeks to go, the 2025 Triton Showers National Rally Championship roars to life with the Jeremy O’Connor Longford Arms Hotel Stages Rally, on March 2. 

All eyes will be on World Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean, driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2 alongside co-driver Eoin Treacy. Fans will have the chance to meet the duo at the ceremonial start, hosted at the Longford Arms Hotel, on the eve of the event. The ceremonial start commences at 6pm outside the rally HQ where the top crews & top local crews and their cars will be interviewed by well known sport journalist Sean Moriarity.  

The unofficial entry list, that includes over 40 Rally 2 cars entered to date is a who's who of national and international rallying talent with entries coming from as far away as Australia, USA, Scotland, England and Wales. 

Can anyone stop reigning champion Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2) as he aims for a fifth consecutive title? His brother Sam also Hyundai mounted, Daniel Cronin (making his delayed debut in his new Citroen C3 Rally2 after the Galway Rally postponement), and Eddie Doherty will be doing their best to halt his progress.

Former British champion and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship contender Matt Edwards in another Hyundai also adds to the mix on his second visit to the Midlands. Declan Boyle, a former national champion, returns in a Skoda Fabia Rally2, while Doherty will be pushing hard for a win in his own Skoda.  

Robert Barrable makes a welcome return to the national scene in either a Ford Fiesta or Skoda Fabia, and local driver Tommy Doyle (Hyundai) will be hoping to make his mark.  

Desi Henry, known for his route safety notes expertise with McErlean in Monte Carlo in January, adds another layer to an already competitive entry list in his Citroen. Michael Boyle whose first win cannot be far away, Gary Kieran (now getting to grips with his Ford Fiesta Rally2), Kevin Eves, and local ace Shane Quinn are all ones to watch.  Edwards' Hyundai teammate, Cathan McCourt, also joins the fray.  

The modified class promises fireworks too, with Gary McPhillips (Ford Escort), Kevin Gallagher and Barry Morris (both in Darrian T90s), and Mickey Carbin (Ford Escort) leading the charge. Home turf advantage could play a role for local drivers like Keelan Grogan (Peugeot 208 Rally4), Stephen Faughnan (Ford Escort), and returning American ex-pats Paul Rowley and Enda McCormack.

Sister and brother team Aoife and Dean Raftery are also on the entry with Aoife making her delayed Rally3 debut in a Ford Fiesta, and Dean chasing National championship class honours in a similar machine. Relatively local racing driver Morgan Dempsey trying his hand at rallying adds even more interest to the oversubscribed entry list. 

Midland Motor club have a record number of local crews entered that include all girls crew out for their first time with Amy Faughnan driving and Jane Collins navigating, competing in a Honda Civic, Packie Duffy from Longford and Evin Hughes out in a Civic, Colin O’Rourke and John McElheney are in a Polo.

Brothers Declan & Shane Hagan from Drumlish will be rearing to go in their Escort while Ronan Quinn & Kevin Heffernan will be out in an Escort. Eoin Kelly from Roscommon & Sean Brunton compete in an Escort while brother & sister duo Darragh & Marie Kelly from Roscommon are in a Civic, Bobby Cooper & Elaine Ni Shé in an Evo, Colin Flanagan & Kevin Reilly also in an Evo 10. John Shaw & Dermot Flynn, Shane O’Rourke drives an Evo, Colin Duffy & Sam Johnston Honda Civic, Kevin Lennon & Francis Dempsey in a Mini, Enda Gerety drives an Escort, Sean Og Cahill & Liam Hughes in a Corolla Twincam, Stephen Healy & Niall Healy from Lanesboro also in a Twincam, Jack Kelly & James McBrearty, Seamus Cahill & James Cahill, Mick McCormack & Sean McCormack.