Galway Summer Rally route map, dates, times and drivers
The racers are revving up and ready to go
Galway Motor Club members are turning out in force for their home event on Sunday week - with over 30 local crews making up a massive entry list.
In all, more than 200 entries have been received, leaving organisers with the task of whittling the field down to the maximum permitted 150 starters at rally headquarters in the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe.
Craughwell co-driver Ayrton Sherlock carries strong local hopes as he continues his Triton Showers National Rally Championship push alongside Leitrim driver Keelan Grogan in a Class 5 Ford Fiesta.
"I’m really looking forward to our home event. The Galway Summer Rally is run every two years and it's always a real highlight for me," Ayrton said.
Craughwell-based driver Dean Raftery stands out as a dark horse in the field, having taken a Class 5 victory at the Galway International Rally in a Ford Fiesta Rally3.
Another crew eyeing a major impression high up the leaderboard are Meath driver Tom Jnr Holton and Galway Motor Club co-driver Stephen Joyce.
Running in Class 5 in their Ford Fiesta, the pair have shown impressive speed this season and are more than capable of mounting a challenge for a top-ten overall finish.
Carnmore's Stephen Greaney and Jonathan Folan from the Claddagh line up in another Class 5 Ford Fiesta, also targeting a top-ten overall finish.
Galway Motor Club crews will also be vying for the Conroy Cup, one of the most coveted awards in the club’s sporting calendar and presented each year by the Conroy family of Loughrea.
Athenry driver Trevor Keane and navigator John Conneelly compete in Class 2 in a Ford Fiesta Rally4, taking to the stages to raise awareness and support for official charity partner The Gavin Glynn Foundation.
Event sponsor Adrian Quinn Junior, representing Labane-based Adrian Quinn Car Sales, chases Class 4 honours in a Renault Clio alongside Des Sherlock. Menlough's Des Lyons makes his home debut in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 in Class 4 alongside Monaghan co-driver Aishling McArdle.
Gort's club stalwart Tommy Flanagan, who competed in the 1985 Galway Summer Rally, returns alongside his son Niall Flanagan in a Class 12 Ford Escort. Returning after a break, Abbeyknockmoy brothers Damien Boyle and Joseph Boyle bring out their Ford Escort Mk1 in Class 12.
Tuam brothers Stephen Hernon and Ivan Hernon return following a fourth-in-class RC4 finish at the Galway International Rally in January. Galway City father-and-son crew Pat Kelly and Jonathan Kelly bring their Ford Fiesta R5 to the start line, aiming for Championship points.
Athenry's Jason Ollerenshaw returns to the driver's seat after 14 years away, navigated by Alesha Gannon in a Class 11F Peugeot 206. Newcomers Christopher Adair and Nathan Biggin tackle their first local rally in a Class 11F Honda Civic EK4, joined in the class by South Galway's Cathal Keane and Cathal Kelly, Brian Martyn and Conor O'Connell in another Honda Civic, as well as Mike Dolan from Athenry.
Loughrea's Gerard Daly has University of Limerick student Betsy Nguyen on pacenote duties in a Peugeot 106 Cup Car. Tuam's Damien Connell and Gary McWalter look to repeat their early-season form in Class 11F after taking second in class at the Galway International and a class win at the Mayo Stages Rally.
Kilcolgan father-and-son Colin and Shane Mullins step out in Class 2 in their Peugeot 208 Rally4. Anther son Cathal Mullins and Michael Lafferty aim for better luck in their Honda Civic after early season retirements. And in the juniors, a third son Darragh Mullins and his Oranmore co-driver Sophie Byrnes makes a second appearance of 2026 in another Class 16 Civic.
Claregalway's Eoin Cullinane and Nathan Maloney make their second appearance of the year in another Honda Civic EK4.
Also from Claregalway, Brendan Burke and Daniel Fahey make their fourth rally start in a Class 11F Honda Civic, while Galway City's Padraic Millane and Gavin Bird target a finish in their Civic.
Loughrea publicans Justin Comer and Adrian Comer return in a Class 13 Ford Escort, making their first rally appearance since the 2024 Galway Summer Rally.
In Class 2A, Turloughmore's Jason Gorham debuts a Ford Fiesta R2, while recent Monaghan Rally Class 2A winner Craughwell’s Gemma Hallinan competes in her Ford Fiesta.