Marshals // 2009
There is not much time until the World Rally Championship rolls into town for the world's best drivers to take on the challenging Irish tarmac. Once again more than 3000 officials and marshals will be helping out over the weekend to ensure the success of Rally Ireland.
is chief marshal and will be assisted by Regional Coordinators who have already started their marshal recruitment drive.
Each coordinator has been assigned a geographical area which includes the motor clubs in that region.
Rally Ireland marshals will receive an event programme, a WRC Rally Ireland Beanie hat, free entry to the service park in Sligo, a packed lunch and a hot evening meal close to their stage.
Marshalling at Rally Ireland:
1. If you are a member of a motorclub in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland a regional coordinators will be in contact with your club. Please contact your own club directly if you wish to marshal in January.
2. If you are not a member of a club then reference the list of clubs throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for contact details of a motorclub in your area. Alternatively you can contact the regional marshal coordinator in your area who will point you in the right direction to get you involved.
REGIONAL COORDINATORS
MOTORCLUB CONTACTS DETAILS
Motorsport Ireland
REGIONS
Chief Marshal
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Overall responsibility for recruitment and management of marshals for Rally Ireland
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North East
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ALMC
Castle Automobile Club
Co Cavan MC
Meath & District MC
Northeast MC
East Coast Rally Marshals Club
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South West
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Birr & District Automobile Club
Clare MC
Limerick MC
Tipperary LC & MCC
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South East
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Carlow Car Club
Carrick-on-Suir MC
Co Kildare MC
GSMC
Laois Rallysport Club
Leinster MC
Wexford MC
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Northern Ireland
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Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs
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Southern
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Cork MC
Imokilly MC
Kerry MC
Killarney & District MC
Munster MC
Skibbereen & District Car Club
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Mid-West
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Connacht MC (Sligo)
Co Galway MC
Mayo & District Motorsport Club
Midland MC
Galway Motorsport MC
Western Marshals Club
Westmeath & District MC
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UK / Europe / Donegal
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All UK Clubs
All European Clubs
Donegal MC
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Service Park
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If interested in marshalling in the Service Park,
contact Sean directly for more information
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Training
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If any club requires specific training needs or
information requirements contact Rosemary
directly
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Paul Goodman < < go back to top to top
Chief Marshal
Marshal Coordinator – UK Motor Clubs / Europe
Paul Goodman is The Chief Marshal for Rally Ireland in 2009. Paul, from Dundalk in Co. Louth is a member of the Northeast Motorsports Club and was their COC for their stages rally in 2003 and 2004. He started competing in Stage Rallying as a co-driver in 1993 and has co-driven for over forty drivers both here in Ireland and also overseas. Paul was recently crowned the Dunlop National Rally Champion along with his driver Patrick Elliott from Cavan having won the ten round 2008 National Series. Paul’s role for Rally Ireland is to ensure that sufficient numbers of marshals are in place throughout the rally route thus ensuring that Rally Ireland again produces a safe and enjoyable event for both competitors and spectators alike. He is also the Marshal Coordinator for the UK and European Clubs for Rally Ireland. He is married to Kellie and they have a daughter Emma aged 18 months.
Paul Hughes < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – North East Region
Paul Hughes from Co. Monaghan became interested in rallying after witnessing Ari Vatenen drive the “Black Beauty” Escort on the 1978 Donegal International and he was hooked. He began his competitive career in 1985 on Navigation Trials and subsequently won the East Coast navigation championship in 1991 and went on to become Irish National Champion in 1996. In 1988 Paul began co-driving on Stages Rallies achieving numerous class wins with different drivers including a Tarmac Championship class win and an overall rally victory. Paul has been the backbone of Monaghan Motor club for over 20 years and has served in many roles from Club Chairman to COC of their stages rally for four years in the late 1990’s. More recently Paul has also acted as Motorsport Ireland Trainer, Steward and Safety Officer as well as being a Rallies Committee and Motorsport Commission member. Again, as in 2007 Paul is the Marshal Coordinator for the North East region for Rally Ireland.
Gerry O’Brien < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – South West Region
Gerry a native of Crusheen in Co. Clare has been an active member of Clare Motor Club for many years. He has played an active role in recruiting marshals for many of his neighbouring clubs in the South West for the past number of years and more recently has acted as Chief Marshal for Clare Motor Club’s stages rally. Gerry is married to Mary and works as a Sales Executive for Oliver Walsh Motors in Ennis. Again, as in 2007 Gerry is the Marshal Coordinator for the South West region for Rally Ireland.
Sean Martin < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – South East Region
Sean Martin from Barntown in Co Wexford has been a prominent member of Wexford Motor Club for over eight years. He has acted on numerous occasions as COC for their Hillclimb and sprint events as well as a Motorsport Ireland Safety officer for its Hillclimb championships. More recently Sean acted as Assistant COC for Wexfords successful two day Dick Bailey Stages Rally. Again, as in 2007 Sean is the Marshal Coordinator for the South East region for Rally Ireland.
Plunkett Boyle < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – Northern Ireland Motor Clubs
Plunkett, from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone has been involved at all levels of Motorsport since he initially became involved in competing and organising navigation Rallies and Autotest’s at Queens University Belfast Motor Club and is currently the COC of the Ulster National Rally. He was involved in setting up the Motorsport Marshalling Partnership which promotes and rewards marshalling in Northern Ireland which also ensures that marshals receive training days with doctors and rescue crews with his efforts having even attracting funding from the North’s Sports Council. In 2005 Plunkett was voted the top marshal in Britain by the UK`s governing body of motor sport, the Motor Sports Association. Plunkett is married with 4 young children and works as a Project Manager for BT. Again, as in 2007, Plunkett is the Marshal Coordinator for Northern Ireland for Rally Ireland.
Ger Hayes < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – Southern Region
Ger, from Clonakilty, Co cork has been a member of the Skibbereen and District Car Club for the last many years and enjoys the camaraderie of marshalling and helping out other clubs in their events. He can be seen marshalling at events the length and breath of the country and has more recently taken on the role of Deputy COC for this years Skibbereen Fastnet Rally. He has also been the COC for the Clubs famous 100 Isle Navigational Trial for the past two years. This is Ger’s first year as a Rally Ireland Marshal Coordinator and will be working with the Clubs in the South Munster Region.
Sheila Patrick < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – Mid West Region
Sheila, a native of Scotland is the Marshal Coordinator for the Mid West region for Rally Ireland.Sheila’s introduction to rallying in Ireland was the Galway International Rally in 1995. She was part of the service crew for a car which travelled over from West Yorkshire and she and her husband were so impressed with the friendly rally scene in Ireland that they moved here the following year. Since then she has been involved in many aspects of rallying, from writing rally safety plans to being the Deputy COC for the Galway International Rally. Sheila has also been Secretary of Galway Motor Club and is currently involved with GMC events at an organisational level.
Roisin MacRory < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – UK and overseas Clubs / Donegal Motorclub
Roisin lives in Omagh, Co Tyrone and has been actively involved in Motorsport for over 10 years as a marshal, timekeeper and an official. She has also competed in a number of local events. She has been involved in Rally Ireland since its inception was the Stage Commander on Sloughan Glen for the 2007 event. She works for Waterways Ireland as an Administrator and is married to Simon who is also a member of the Rally Ireland team. They have a 3 year old daughter Áine, who no doubt will follow in their tyre tracks.
Sean Hannigan < < go back to top
Marshal Coordinator – Service Park
Sean Hannigan is a Donegal native and undoubtedly the Donegal International Rally has had quite an influence on his interest in rallying. He moved to Sligo in the mid 1980’s and he has been involved in Motorsport for over 25 years, initially as a co-driver with Harold Thompson from Manorhamilton in the National Rally Championship, and then some years later with Sligo man Dominic McLoughlin, in the famous Red Sunbeam JZP 777. Sean has been an active member of the Connacht Motor Club since the early 1980’s, is Club Treasurer and was COC for the Sligo Stages Rally in 1991 and 1992. Sean is married with two children and again, as in 2007 Sean is the Marshal Coordinator for the Service Park in Sligo where he will assist Joe Corcoran and Cyril Donnellan with ensuring that spectators visiting the Sligo IT Service Park will find a Safe and friendly place to experience Rally Ireland.
Rosemary Walsh < < go back to top
Rally Ireland Training Officer
Rosemary Walsh has been an active member of Connacht Motor Club since 1991. She started competing as a co-driver in 1994 and has been active in the sport in numerous roles including marshalling, timekeeping and communications for Clubs around the country. She has held the role of Chief Marshal and Event Safety Officer for the Sligo Stages Rally for several years and was COC for Sligo Single Stage rally in 2005. Rosemary has been involved in Rally Ireland since its beginnings in 2005 and was the Chief Marshal for both the candidate event in 2006 and for Rally Ireland WRC in 2007. On a national level Rosemary is one of the Motorsport Ireland Marshal trainers and she currently sits on the Motorsport Ireland Safety Advisory Group. In 2009 Rosemary is responsible for the official training for Rally Ireland. This includes designing sector and media marshal briefings programmes which will be delivered at various regional sector marshal briefing sessions in January ‘09. Rosemary will also be involved in Rally Ireland’s training day scheduled for November 15th where many functions of the 2009 event will come together to be briefed on the 2009 event and network with the various functional teams such as marshal coordinators, timekeepers, stage managers, communications and media.