Classic routes for the Rally of the Lakes

Raymond O'Neill, Kenny O'Neill, Ronald Riordan, John Hickey, Tony Murphy and Charlie Hickey at the launch

Denis and Pat Walshe and Diarmuid Lynch at the launch of the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Sunday .The rally will take place on May 4th and 5th. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

James O'Brien, Ted O'Gorman, Cormac Casey and Diarmuid Cronin at the launch

Thomas Randles (Killarney & District Motor Club Chairman), Noel O'Sullivan Jnr and Noel O'Sullivan Snr and Cormac Casey (KC Print and Clerk of the course) at the launch of the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Sunday .The rally will take place on May 4th and 5th. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

Patrick O'Donoghue Gleneagle Hotel, Conor Deasy Assess Ireland and Cormac Casey, KC Print and clerk of the course at the launch

Classic routes as well as challenging new additions have been unveiled for this year’s International Rally of the Lakes which will roar to life in Killarney on May 4 and 5.

Killarney and District Motor Club launched this year’s big event at the Gleneagle Hotel on Sunday afternoon and 2024 will mark the 43nd running of the biggest rally in Kerry.

At the launch of the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Sunday were, front from left, Conor Deasy, Assess Ireland CEO, Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney, Shane O’Driscoll, Gleneagle Hotel and Cormac Casey, KC Print and clerk of the course. Also included are Isaac and Evan Casey, Anthony O’Connor, Kenneth and Des O’Neill, Thomas Randles, Killarney and District Motor Club Chairman, James O’Brien, Assess Ireland, Dermot Healy, Colman Hegarty, Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, John Buttimer, Southern 4 Rally Championship, Mike Moriarty and Killarney and District Motor Club members.
Pictures: Eamonn Keogh

Motorsport enthusiasts can expect an action-packed weekend, beginning with the now-traditional ceremonial start on Main Street on Friday night.

The rally will return to the Beara Peninsula on Saturday and the route will include classic favourites like Cod’s Head, Ardgroom and the Healy Pass.

Sunday’s route also features some new roads, as the rally heads to east Kerry with newer versions of old favourites on offer including a longer version of Gortnagane.

Rally driver Louise Bourke and Conor Deasy, Assess Ireland CEO, at the launch

With entries set to close on Friday the club will be in a position to reveal some of the big names that will tackle the rally in just over two weeks’ time.

At the launch clerk of the course Cormac Casey outlined the plans for this year’s rally and thanked the large group of people that have helped pull this event together.

“There are many moving parts that made this event possible and so many fantastic people behind those moving parts.

“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone. I have been involved for many years and it is an absolute pleasure to work with such people,” he said.

At the launch there was a static display of some of the competing cars and local drivers, including Muckross man, defending champion Noel O’Sullivan who is chasing a third victory in a row.

The 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is being led by the Killarney and District Motor club crew of Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.

KillarneyToday.com: No other local publication can match our reach. To advertise call 087-2229761