11-07-2025
Motorsport calendar is still experiencing uncertain conditions
The impact of Storm Éowyn, which brought widespread damage with its record-breaking wind speeds with gusts reaching 184km/h in Co Galway late last January, has led to some unfinished business within Irish rallying, particularly in the Tribal city.
The Corrib Oil Galway International Rally and the Donegal Forest Rally were amongst those hit, and both were postponed.
Now, almost six months on and in the midst of a heatwave, the Irish motorsport calendar is still experiencing uncertain conditions as the possibility of rescheduling the Galway event is fraught with indecision and lack of comment, except when sought.
The Donegal Forest Rally was rescheduled for early November, ironically on the same day as the awards ceremony for the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
As for the Galway International, there has been a still silence with the exception of a statement from the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) while the organising Galway Motor Club was due to hold a meeting to discuss the matter last night (Thursday).
Communications between Motorsport Ireland, the governing body of Irish motorsport and the Galway Motor Club have been somewhat truncated, so far, neither has made a decision.
The toing and froing hasn't been good for Irish motorsport.
Indeed, relationships between the governing body and the club have not always been straightforward and whilst they're not akin to Storm Éowyn, they led to court proceedings some two years ago that forced Motorsport Ireland to do a u-turn on a decision not to allow Galway Motor Club to run rally events in 2024/2025.
Earlier this week, the TROA, through its championship manager Sean Hayde, advised its competitors that the "Galway International Rally 2025 will not be partaking in the championship this year."
At least that was some initiative and may propel the long-awaited and much-needed decision on the rally itself.
As per the championship regulations, competitors can count their best five scores from the six rounds with the Ulster Rally (August 15/16) and the Cork '20' Rally (October 4/5) to complete this year's series.
Recently, a spokesperson for Motorsport Ireland told the Irish Examiner that they had informed the Galway Motor Club that only applications for a two-day event would have international status.
GMC has requested MI to provide a date as their previous requests were turned down because of objections from other clubs.
The entire situation has dragged on for over four months and is unacceptable. Motorsport Ireland has a duty to govern the sport responsibly, provide leadership and show respect to all parties and in this context that includes the TROA.
It should never be forgotten that those within organising clubs are volunteers, who need the co-operation of residents along the rally routes to hold their events.
That was key last February for clerk of the course Joe O'Donoghue and his team.
At the time, he said: "Our principal concern is for the residents and farming communities along the rally route in the Headford, Tuam and Monivea region."
He underlined the great relationship the club has with all the people involved and the desire to continue that into the future, emphasising that such will always be the case.
The general consensus is that the event will not be rescheduled, so why the delay in bringing a conclusion to the matter with MI reimbursing GMC for their outlay (suggested to be around €25,000) - hopefully that is not a factor in the delay.
