The Killarney Historic Rally is recognised Internationally as Irelands premier Historic Rally. It attracts a huge amount of quality competitors every year and is Ireland’s only event to cater solely for historic rally cars.
It is included as counting rounds of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, The Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship, The British HRCR Rally Championship and The Plasticbags Southern 4 Rally Championship.
The event is expected to attract over 150 crews from all over Ireland, the UK and indeed Europe, takes place on Saturday 29th November, 2025.
In the intervening years the rally has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most popular events on the annual rally calendar.
Kris Meeke’s competitive return to Irish soil has been confirmed for this month’s event, with the Dungannon man labelling the opportunity “a dream come true”.
Meeke is relying on a BMW M3 E30 supplied by Dutch team MATS BV to carry him to victory on Saturday, a date that ends a 16-year absence since he last competed in Ireland.
His entry is in tribute to event founder, the late Maurice Nagle — the father of Paul Nagle who navigated Meeke to five wins when they were World Rally Championship team-mates at Citroen Racing.
Defending Killarney Historic Rally winners Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy hope to repeat their 2025 triumph aboard their successful Bastos-liveried BMW M3. Kelly became only the second person to win Killarney in an M3, following the late Craig Breen’s dominant 2021 victory.
The M3 battalion continues with 2025 Historic ITRC champions John O’Donnell and Paddy Robinson, who were unstoppable throughout last season in their BMW.
Reigning champion Tomas Davies returns to defend his crown, partnered with Kerry man Shane Buckley. The Welshman grabbed top ITRC points at Killarney twelve months ago but enters this year’s event in an M3, switching from his usual Ford Escort RS1800 machinery.
European Rally legend Patrick Snijers will sample Killarney’s famous stages in another M3, starting one car ahead of Fergus O’Meara. The Belgian’s vast experience on international tarmac events could prove invaluable on Kerry’s unique roads.
Meirion Evans brings his wealth of Historic ITRC experience and multiple event victories to Killarney in his Escort RS1800.
Daragh O’Riordan completes a tantalising top ten in a Ford Escort Cosworth, marking another first-time entry for the iconic four-wheel-drive machine in Ireland’s historic competition.
