Birr Motor Club remembers Finnegan on 30th Anniversary

On 25th November last, Birr & District Motor Club, along with family and friends of the late John Finnegan, gathered in Ballyhourigan Woods where John tragically lost his life in rally in 1993 to erect a memorial plaque to him.

On 28th November 1993, at the Nenagh Lodge Hotel Birr Forestry Rally Stages, John was navigating for Pat Norris in a Ford Escort Cosworth. Unfortunately, on SS2, they left the road and tragically John succumbed to his injuries.

John Finnegan, an electrical technician from Nobber, Co. Meath, was an accomplished Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann musician and a well-known and respected Co-Driver on the Forestry Rally Stages throughout the country.

At the unveiling, Birr Motor Club Chairperson David Forde addressed those gathered from near and far, together with John’s mother Ann, brothers Aidan & Ronan, plus family members to remember the untimely loss of John.

“Today is tinged with sadness, but at the same time a happy day that thirty years later, John is still being remembered,” he began.

“That’s a great sign of anybody and our Club has always remembered John. We’d like to mark this occasion being the thirty years and that the Birr Club, Finnegan Cup is a very much coveted prize in our Club.

“The fact that you’ve to work hard to compete every year for somebody to bring it home and I know the present holder and club member James Lowry tried hard a couple of years before he actually finally got it. James is here today with the Finnegan Cup for all to see.”

Birr Club members Podge Newe along with John Tynan had worked for some time on the planning of the day.

“John in the motorsport community, John was a Marshal, John was a fellow competitor and most importantly John was a friend,” Newe said.

“It’s nice to say to remember him but if the truth be told, a lot of people here have never forgotten him. Anyone who met him or who had dealings with him back when he was competing then, he was the ultimate gentlemen.

“Back then in ‘94, a year after his passing with the family’s blessing we instigated the Finnegan Cup and I say he’s looking down on us now and he’s bursting with pride when you look at some of the people whose names are on the Cup. Mark Murphy went on to win it twice and won two forestry championships. Greg Shinnors went on to be a British Rally champion, he won it a few times. Paul Nagle won it, he went on to compete in the World Championship, won 4 or 5 rounds of the World Championship.

“One of the other names on it was a YouTube sensation during the week, Micky Joe Morrissey, self-confessed that he competed on 1000 rallies, and I was talking to him during the week, and he said that he remembered winning it with John McCarthy in 2006 and he went on to win the Championship that year as well.

“When the Finnegan Cup moved over to Club members competing and the club taking a break from running a forestry event the Cup was reassigned to tarmac and it is still highly coveted as our chairman Davy Forde said and there is healthy rivalry for the Cup.”

John Finnegan’s brother Aidan also addressed those present.

“It’s only now I actually realised what he meant to all of you guys in his time in rallying,” he said.

Ann Finnegan also said thank you all so much for coming to remember John while John’s brother Ronan added: “When we erected the plaque, the whole idea behind it was that John would not be forgotten. There was no need whatsoever to worry looking at you all here today.

Ann Finnegan, with family, laid a wreath and Birr club member James Lowry as the current holder of the Finnegan Cup, laid a wreath on behalf of the Club.

“I’d like to thank the Birr Club itself for all the effort you’ve done to organise this,” said Ann Finnegan.

“I was talking to John Tynan, and he mentioned those who were involved in it. Our family thanks you all very much for all the effort in organising today.”

All adjourned to Andys Gastro Pub, Nenagh for a meal and chat which was enjoyed by all till late evening.