A festive Killarney is always worth the trip
It’s a long way to Tipperary… it’s even further to Killarney!
This afternoon I drove six hours to walk up and down Killarney’s High Street. But boy was it worth it.
Killarney knows how to do a ceremonial start. With the bonus Christmas lights, Killarney Historic’s Friday evening start ramp is rally atmosphere at its very best.
The town was packed with joyous fans, young and old, equally keen to see who and what was taking on Kerry’s terrific tarmac tests.
Killarney Historic Rally’s drivers and co-drivers were lapping up the warm welcome as locals gazed towards their homebuilt supercars.
It may be Ireland’s final closed-road rally of the year but Killarney is the first event of Irish Tarmac’s Historic Championship and it felt like Ireland’s own Autosport Show as I walked along the line of pristine rally cars.
They were shining under the lights and tomorrow they’ll be singing up Molls Gap.
Kerry is rally country and rallying fits right in. Those five hours travelling southbound were worth every minute to witness another evening of rallying delight.
Sierras, Subarus, BMWs, and endless Escorts – historic rallying is crescendoing to new levels. And I love it.
Of course, the modified section won’t disappoint anyone either with the addition of five men from Monaghan to spice things up.
Josh Moffett will have a few extra horsepower at his disposal as he challenges brother Sam in their own tantalising Toyota tussle. Josh is only out for a bit of fun, or so the two-time Tarmac Champion says…
Gary McPhillips and Dessie Keenan complete the county’s front-row modified package and their red Mk2s are ready to roar tomorrow morning. Oh – and did somebody say Daniel McKenna has joined the festive party?
But it’s Craig Breen who leads the way in his Frank Meagher Ford Sierra Cosworth – a rebuild that would do his childhood hero so proud.
Friday night was special in Killarney. Saturday is going to be something else.
We’ll see you at The Gap.
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Photos by Roger Dawson
