The Galway Motor Club held the launch of the 2025 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally on Friday 10th January in the Connacht Hotel. Michael Lyster, formerly of RTE and honorary member of Galway Motor Club was MC for the night that saw a large attendance present, including several former clerks of the course. Clerk of the Course for 2025, Joe Donoghue, said he was delighted to welcome Corrib Oil back as title sponsor. He said “It is a successful partnership that goes all the way back to 2016 and we are delighted to have Corrib Oil on board again this year. We encourage those attending the rally to support our sponsors. We are also extremely fortunate to have the fantastic Connacht Hotel as our headquarters for the rally.” Eugene Dalton of Corrib Oil said “We are delighted to be involved with an event as prestigious as the Galway International Rally, and we recognize the tremendous amount of work put in by the organizing team to make the rally the success that it is. We wish Joe and all his team the best of luck on the 2025 event”. Galway Motor Club have also announced that their chosen partner for this years event is the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Entries are still being received and there looks like there will be an exceptional number of talented drivers lining up in Eyre Square on the February Bank Holiday weekend. Among those who have entered to date include 2024 winner and Tarmac Champions Keith Cronin & Mikie Galvin who plan to begin their defence in a Citroen C3 Rally 2. Josh Moffett, Callum Devine, Matt Edwards, Meirion Evans, Declan Boyle, Eddie Doherty, William Creighton, Kevin Eves, and Ryan Loughran are just some of those expecting to be in the overall shakeup by the end of the event.
The Modified entry also looks competitive with Damien Tourish, Kevin Kelleher, Rodney Wilton, Patrick McHugh, Marty Toner, Martin McGee, and Paul Purtill who are capable of a good result. The RC3 & RC4 classes also have interesting entries including Casey Jay Coleman, Keelan Grogan, Cian Caldwell, Shane Quinn, and Galway Motor member Aoife Raftery. Aoife, who is an Ambassador for Galway Motor Club will line out in a Peugeot 208. Other local entries received to date include Victor Farrell, Dylan Donoghue, Pat Kelly, Declan Forde, Shay Laheen, Paul McHugh, Tommy Flanagan, and Stephen Greaney. In the Historic Category, Ray Breen, Ray Cunningham, John O’Donnell, Wayne Evans, and Hugh McQuaid are amongst the entries. The Junior category is well supported and includes last years winner Jason Wilkinson in a Honda Civic. A new club website has gone live at https://galwaymotorclub.com and more information on the 2025 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally will be available shortly.
Cover Photo Left to Right - David O’Connor (General Manager Connacht Hotel), Bernard Dempsey (Corrib Oil), Joe Donoghue (Clerk of the Course), Phillip Monks (Corrib Oil), Martina Kinane (Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council), Mayor of Galway City, Peter Keane, Aiden Harper (Motorsport Ireland President) & Kevin McHugo (Corrib Oil).
