More details released ahead of Donegal Harvest Stages Rally

The Organisers of the Bayview Hotel Martin Howley Memorial Harvest Stages Rally have released details of the route and major attractions for the Harvest Rally on Saturday 8th October next. Based in Killybegs the centrepiece of the rally will be two runs each through the villages of Kilcar and Glencolmcille in west Donegal.
Clerk of the Course Karl Reid commented at the official press launch of the Rally at the Bayview Hotel in Killybegs on Monday evening:
“As we are bringing the rally here in tribute to Martin Howley, it made sense to try something a little bit special. When the possibility of using the villages first came up we worked closely with the Motorsport Ireland safety team and the residents in both villages to see could we make it work. Both are on the very edge of the Wild Atlantic Way and the scenery around them is stunning, so it’s a great way to showcase the area and bring in new visitors. They won’t be disappointed.”
“I have to take my hat off to all involved. It’s going to be a fantastic spectacle and a great days’ sport. There will be restrictions in place in both villages for spectator safety and everyone is strongly advised to arrive early and listen to the marshals. We have a special team allocated for these areas and I want to thank them and all the marshals who have come forward to help so far. We are still calling for more to get in contact on our e-mail and phone numbers. “
STAGES TO BE NAMED IN HONOUR OF ACCLAIMED CLUB MEMBERS
Karl Reid, Clerk of the Course for the Harvest Stages rally has announced the introduction of a new stage naming system for this years’ event:
“We have lost some of our very best members over the past year and we thought it would be appropriate to mark their passing by naming our rally stages after them. They all worked their hearts out for the Club and for the sport and we miss them dearly. “
“I especially want to mark the loss in the last week of Ann Caddye wife of the late Danny Caddye, one of our founder members. This sad news came too late for inclusion in our Rally programme. Ann worked in every rally office almost since the Club’s foundation and her loss, and that of her family, is very keenly felt by us all. She was a truly wonderful lady.”
“There will be articles about each of them in the Rally programme so I am pleased to announce the stages will be named after Joe Breslin, David Wasson, Martin Howley and Gerald Hunter. Gerald was a huge figure with training and recruiting our marshals and was a Clerk of the Course of this Rally. He passed away after a short illness since the International Rally.”
STAGE 1/3 BRESLINS KILCAR VILLAGE
STAGE 2/4 WASSON’S GLENCOLMCILLE
STAGE 5/7 HOWLEY’S CROAGH LAKE
STAGE 6/8 HUNTER’S LOUGH ADEERY.
SERVICE TO BE LOCATED ON THE WATERFRONT AT ISPS PIER IN KILLYBEGS
He continued:
“We are also announcing that our Service Area will be the ISPS Pier in Killybegs, an amazing facility right in the centre of the town of Killybegs, which will provide probably the best service venue we have ever had for a rally in County Donegal. We are greatly indebted to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for allowing us the use of the Pier, and have worked closely on it with the Harbourmaster in Killybegs in recent weeks. Their help has been invaluable.”
BIG SCREENS IN SERVICE AREA FOR LIVE ACTION.
“That’s not all. Spectators will be able to view the rally stages live on a big screen in the Service area, another first for the Harvest. Again, we are asking people to park sensibly, heed the marshals and walk the short distance to the service area along the promenade. Access to the quayside will be closed by high barriers for the day.”
RALLY PROGRAMME AVAILABLE FROM NEXT WEEKEND
The Organisers have advised that a comprehensive Rally programme, including detailed spectator maps with a stage timing schedule, articles, driver profiles and a the full entry list will be available in local outlets from the weekend starting 30th September. A list of outlets will be published on the event website and notified on social media on the Event Facebook page and on the Facebook page of the Donegal International Rally and on Twitter and other formats.
HUGE ENTRY EXPECTED FOR ‘BIG SATURDAY’ IN KILLYBEGS
The Secretary of the Rally, Yvonne Watters, commented:
“We are quite taken aback with the level of interest. The phone and e-mails haven’t cooled since entries opened. It’s not just from competitors, but also from marshals and spectators. The Rally is the finale of three Rally series, the Triton Showers National, the Sligo Pallets Border Series and Donegal MC’s own Donegal Commercials championship. We are looking at a record entry.”
“The attraction of Killybegs as the host venue is a big part of it, but many of them have also said they want to be in the rally as part of the tribute to Martin Howley. We know the accommodation is filling up very quickly. It looks like being a big Saturday for Killybegs.”
“We already have over 150 entries and they are still coming in, bringing us close to our capacity of 161. Wednesday 28th is our closing date, so anyone who wants to be included in what looks like being the biggest one- day rally of the year would need to get in touch now.”
MOUTH WATERING LINE-UP SET FOR RALLY SHOWDOWN
Bearing in mind that the entries are still open and the formal seeding has to be completed, Clerk of the Course Karl Reid has released a taster of the quality entry on offer this year.
“The Harvest has always attracted a strong entry from within the Club and the Border Series. The addition this year of the National Championship series adds a further dimension. The competition will be fierce and we will have the very best competitors in all categories on the startline on the 8th October. With no less than three former winners of the Donegal International Rally included in WRC cars, we are certainly looking forward to a classic weekend in Killybegs. I would again ask everyone to spectate safely and to heed the instructions of the marshals. ”
A Selection of entries Received so far:
Gary Jennings Rory Kennedy Impreza WRC
Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Fiesta WRC
Niall Maguire Enda Sherry Impreza WRC
Frank Wray Joe Mc Nulty Impreza WRC
Manus Kelly Gareth Doherty Impreza WRC
Enda Mc Cormack Colin Fitzgerald Impreza WRC
J F Shovelin Terence Furey Impreza WRC
Joe Mc Gonigle Cieran Geaney Skoda R5
Andrew Stewart Fabian Mc Shane Skoda S2000
Aidan Wray Kieran Mc Grath Evo X
Shane Maguire Mac Kierans Evo 9
Michael Carbin Conor Mahon Evo 4
Trevor Bustard John Mc Elhinney Evo 9
Tony Jardine Allan Harryman Evo 9
Gary Kiernan Ryan Moore Escort 14
Chris Armstrong Chris Melly Escort 14
Adrian Hetherington Ronan O Neill Escort 14
Damien Toner Denver Rafferty Escort 14
Damien Gallagher Mac Walsh Escort 14
Ryan Loughran John Mc Elhinney Escort 14
Columba Heena Michael Mc Clafferty Corolla 13
John Bonner Leon Jordan Escort 13
Patrick Mc Hugh Pauric O Donnell Escort 13
Declan Gallagher James Mc Nulty Starlet 13
Seamus Connolly Gary Mc Crudden Corolla 11R
Kyle Mc Gettigan Dale Mc Gettigan Corolla 11R
Liam Doherty Dermot Mc Gettigan Corolla 11R
Leonard Craig Conal Mc Nulty Starlet 11R
Marty Gallagher Dean O Sullivan Peugeot 208
FINAL CALL FOR MARSHALS ACCOMMODATION AND COMPETITORS
The Chief Marshal for the Harvest Rally, Mr. Francie Devine stated:
“We have had a very successful training day for our marshals at the Bayview Hotel but we are keen that anyone who may be travelling to the Rally and can give assistance gets in touch as soon as possible. With the popularity of the Rally we expect strong spectator numbers and are appealing for anyone who can act as a marshal to come forward. I can be contacted on 00-353-87-620-5328 and on 00-44-785-108-4821.
Event Secretary Yvonne Watters may be contacted on: harvestrallysecretary@gmail.com