Safety first for Cavan Rally - organisers

The 2013 Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally gets under way this Sunday when 140 cars will be competing in the prestigious event.
A year on from the double tragedy when two people lost their lives just outside Bailieboro when one of the rally cars collided with a group of spectators, the organisers are conscious of the safety aspect of this year’s event.
Caroline Cleary (29) from Wexford and motorsports photographer Joe Lane (50) from Kilcogan, Galway, were both fatally injured in the collision.
Jim Reilly, secretary of Cavan Rally, has urged all spectators to co-operate fully with the marshals and senior officials. “We have tried to make it as safe as we can and we are very safety conscious every year and this year is no different,” he said. Each year we strive to improve safety and be safety conscious, he added.
They have excellent marshals in place again this year, according to Mr Reilly and they have all attended safety training from senior officials down. Things were progressing well and the plans were coming together, he stated.
The Cavan Stages Rally has been running since the mid-1980s. “We hope that people attending the rally will obey the marshals as well as the officials and everyone has a good and safe day’s rallying,” said Mr Reilly.
Everyone was conscious of the events last year and they had not been forgotten. “What happened was a terrible tragedy and is still fresh in people’s minds.”
According to Mr Reilly, the main seeds in this year’s rally are Donagh Kelly, driving a Subaru world rally car, Gary Jennings driving another world rally car, while there is also a very good top ten entry.
“The entry will be one of the best in the country so far this year,” he claimed.
The event starts on Saturday morning from the Hotel Kilmore when the drivers will carry out a “recce of the route.” They will return that evening and their cars go through mechanical scrutiny, where they are checked for safety issues and roadworthiness.
The rally starts proper on Sunday morning with the first car away from the hotel at 10am. All going well the winner will appear back at about 5.30pm at the finish ramp again in the hotel.