Flag fall for return of Birr Stages Rally

Excitement is building for the Birr Motorclub Stages Rally this Sunday, 29th March in the North Tipperary region.

This 9-stage event, which is based in the surrounding areas of Nenagh town, is a counting round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, Hugo Loonam Motors, Midlands East Rally Championship, Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship, Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series, Stellantis Rally Cup Ireland and the Dacia Sandero Challenge Cup.

Rally organisers have set out this event with the competitor in mind – headquarters, service, scrutiny and trailer park all close to each other. Rally HQ is the Abbey Court Hotel and Clerk of the Course; John Tynan and his team have set three challenging stages on a compact route being run three times making for a straightforward recce for the competitors.

The first stage is Ballymackey located to the east of Nenagh, followed by Forty Acres near Ardcroney and finally Cloughprior near Puckaun. Each stage has its own traits and terrain to test the crews.

The first car leaves Parc Ferme at 8:30am this Sunday. The winning crew is expected back at the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh at approximately 4:40pm.

On board as event sponsors is Pat Horan Motors Limited who runs a very successful Campervan centre in Aglish, Borrisokane, and is also Assistant Clerk of the Course for the rally.

Slattery’s Garage Puckaun are the main Peugeot and DS Automobile dealers in the Nenagh area with Andrew Slattery competing in his recently acquired Peugeot 208 Rally 4

The Abbey Court Hotel is once again provided the headquarters for this event and has done so in the past. They will be open over the rally weekend serving food and refreshments

Stage sponsors of whom will be competing include RAE Autofactors (Stage 1/4/7), Sola Energy Solutions (Stage 2/5/8) and Percy’s Garage/Gym Kraft Ireland (Stage 3/6/9).

The entry list for the Abbey Court Hotel Birr Stages Rally reads like a "who’s who" of Irish rallying history. Headlining the field is defending champion and recent West Cork Rally winner, Josh Moffett from Monaghan. Alongside co-driver Keith Moriarty (Limerick) they are aiming for their first National win in their in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

Notably, the field also features former champions Tim McNulty (Dublin), Roy White (Tipperary), and three-time national king Niall Maguire (Monaghan). Moffett is followed by a high-speed Donegal convoy: Michael Boyle and Dermot McCafferty start at two in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, while his father multiple national champion Declan Boyle returns at number three with Patrick Walsh (Wales) handling the notes in a similar Skoda.

The quality remains through the top ten. Desi Henry (Derry) and Dean O’Sullivan (Donegal) return to the national stages at four in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, followed by Matthew Boyle (Donegal) and Gary Byrne (Donegal) at five in another Skoda. Jason Dickson (Tyrone) and Martin Brady (Galway) start at six, ahead of Longford’s Shane Quinn and Stephen Reynolds (Leitrim) in their Fiestas. Fresh from a strong West Cork run, Daniel Cronin (Cork) and Padraig O’Donovan (Cork) bring their Toyota GR Yaris at number eight, followed by modified convert Kevin Eves (Donegal) and Chris Melly (Donegal) at nine. Rounding out the top ten is Triton Showers boss Paul Barrett (Kildare) and Darragh Kelly (Roscommon) in their Citroen C3 Rally2.

“It’s fantastic to see the rally coming back to the Nenagh area after an eight year hiatus,” said Clerk of the course John Tynan.

“I would like to say a massive thanks to my background team who really chipped in to get this event to where it is in such a short space of time.

“I want to also sincerely thank the Abbey Court Hotel for coming on board to provide the event headquarters; Nenagh Mart for giving us the service area, Nenagh College for providing us with a trailer park, K Mack Engineering for giving us Scrutiny area, our event & stage sponsors, the Nenagh Guardian newspaper for all the great coverage, Tipperary Co. Council, An Garda Siochana, the residents along the rally route for their co-operation and being so welcoming, the emergency services and finally the filling stations who provided marshals meeting points Caseys Centra Toomevara (stage 1) Cleary’s Filling Station Limerick road Nenagh (stage 2) Mulrooney’s Filling Station on the Borrisokane road Nenagh (stage 3).

“Rally programs will be available in these premises, the Abbey Court Hotel, and other outlets closer to the rally; a full list is published on social media. I would like to wish each and every one a safe but enjoyable rally. Please obey the marshals and spectate safely.”