Clerk of Course McGee keen to keep things fresh at Donegal International Rally 

Eamon McGee says the beauty of the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally is that the sheer vastness of the region means the scope is always there to really mix it up. 

The Gaoth Dobhair man is once again the Clerk of the Course for the event and he says off the back of the success of last year’s opening in Donegal Town, the chance to try something similar this time out was again at the forefront of his mind. 

There were three stage routes in the south of the county in 2023 along the Donegal Town, Ballyshannon and Barnesmore areas. And McGee has again looked to freshen things up this time out. 

“We went to Donegal Town last year and it was a great success,” he said. “People were happy that we mixed it up and there was a change. Truth be told, it would have been the easy thing to go back through the Gap again in 2024.

“But we thought, ‘no, let’s do something different again’. We’re going to Inishowen and believe me, when you see what’s in store, it’s special. 

“The Malin Head and Mamore Gap, it’s a classic. The first 4km, it seems fine but then it really opens up. Once you get to that point you have real driving to do then. 

“On Saturday and Sunday, we’ve changed a few things up as well like Garrygort, we’ve revered it again. 

“We’re doing Glen in the evening, a stage in the back of Termon, Lough Keel. It would be unknown to a lot of drivers but there’s real variation in it. 

“It’s amazing what you can pull out of the bag, driving-wise, when you go looking for it”.