Aoife Raftery, Ireland's leading female rally driver, has been appointed as the Women in Motorsport Ambassador for the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally, scheduled for February 1 and 2.
The announcement was made at the official launch at the Connacht Hotel in Galway on Friday night (10th January 2025).
At the event, Aoife spoke to Galway Bay FM's Gerry Murphy, but first, Gerry chatted to President of Motorsport Ireland Aidan Harper.
Gerry also got the thoughts of Joe Donoghue, the clerk of the course for the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally.
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Craughwell native Aoife Raftery will promote the rally to a broader audience, with a focus on increasing female participation in motorsport at both local and national levels.
“People must support and show the next generation of young female drivers what is possible,” she said.
“I work with Gemma Hallinan who's an up-and-coming female rally driver who is also in Galway Motor Club. She is 16 years old and already competing in gravel events in Ireland. We must be all involved in promoting and encouraging more females to get involved.”
Raftery will be competing in the Galway International Rally, returning to her home event after two successful seasons in the FIA Junior European Rally Championship.
“The Galway International Rally is very special to me and I am so glad that I can drive in it,” she added.
“There's more nerves than usual at your home event but it is really cool to be able to drive over the start ramp in Eyre Square. It is also a great opportunity for me to represent my sponsors at a local level as well as internationally, showing their brands on the Galway stages, around the service area and across social media.”
Raftery is the current Galway Motor Club champion driver and the holder of the prestigious JJ Fleming Memorial Trophy.
In December, she was honoured as the inaugural winner of the Rosemary Smith Memorial Trophy by Motorsport Ireland.
Raftery is also a Motorsport Ireland Road Safety Ambassador, actively promoting the ‘Keep the Race in its Place’ campaign.
Aoife Raftery is supported by: Spain's Coach and Mini Bus Hire| O'Neill O'Malley Architects and Project Managers | Des Lyons Plant | Cannon Concrete, Oranmore | Kenny (Peugeot) Galway | Thatch Bar, Oranmore | Loughrea Auto Parts | Quinn Hardware | Lateralus B | Kerry Motorsport News
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