AS the build-up to the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally continues, the policing of the event under the management of personnel in the Clonakilty Garda Station is a major operation.

Sergeant Donal Daly, who along with his colleagues Inspector Ian O'Callaghan and Sergeant Ann Murphy attended the rally launch at the Park Cinema in Clonakilty, took time out to speak with The Southern Star and outlined what their policing plan involves.

‘The rally is something that I look forward to. I have an interest in motorsport at a personal level and on a professional level I pride myself in the level of service that we deliver for the rally,’ he said.

Sergeant Daly explained that they had a debrief with the rally organisers in the month after last year's rally.

‘In relation to this year's event, we started meeting with the rally organisers in late 2025.’

Given the scale of the event, the time frame is both obvious and necessary.

‘It's the biggest event that we have all year. It kickstarts the tourism season in Clonakilty, it is very important for the town and also it's the biggest event that we police in Clonakilty throughout the year,’ he added.

Having the service park at the West Cork Business and Technology Park is a recent innovation. Its location adjacent to the N71 whilst very advantageous, brings additional demands. Last year their plan worked seamlessly.

‘Around three years ago we commenced a revised policing plan for the rally. As part of that, we actually have one sergeant and four Gardaí dedicated to ensure that the rally gets to where it needs to be throughout the three days. As part of that, they are supported by roads policing, who have a dedicated operation in the Clonakilty area throughout and also community policing,’ Sergeant Daly said.

The entrance and exit from the service park is key to keeping the rally plan flowing as he explained.

‘What we do to ensure the safety on the N71 is that we deploy between 200 and 300 cones throughout Clonakilty and the environs but primarily on the N71 to prevent people parking opposite the service park and crossing the road. Because it is the main N71, we are very mindful of pedestrians.’

On the importance in keeping all traffic flowing he added, ‘It's certainly not an easy job, and yes, the non-rally traffic has to get to where it needs to go too and we have to prioritise the competitors to get to the stages on time.

‘One merely needs to look at the N71, there've been several serious collisions in and around that location in the last number of years and historically. Our priority is to ensure that everybody that comes to Clonakilty for the rally weekend enjoys their weekend and gets home safely.’

This year, with the rally starting with the town stage (and going up Barack Hill past the Garda Station) on Friday night, brings a new dimension that is part of the overall policing plan.

‘There will be extra policing in the town centre. We actually have more resources dedicated on Friday night than we did last year, even though there are two less stages, and that is due to the nature of the town stage and the nature of the spectators and patrons that will be congregating in the centre of the town. It is about ensuring that they all get safely to where they need to go, and also that they're not blocking other traffic and businesses in town.’

It is important to understand that the Gardaí are there to ensure everyone enjoys the event and Sergeant Daly is making a plea to all road users to obey the rules of the road.

‘The road sections are vital, and even the rally drivers, to be fair, when they are at the height of concentration during the stage, there is a certain natural relaxation once the helmet comes off. We are calling on the drivers to set an example. One phrase that I always used during the drivers’ briefing is that the drivers set the tone for the weekend.'

The Garda Community Policing van will be present at the service park all weekend, downtown on Friday night and Sunday to engage with members of the public and the Operation Nexus Golf R will be at the service park all day Saturday and will be on the stages on Friday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, entries for the event, the second round of the NAPA Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, have (on Monday) passed the 140 mark. It is expected that the top ten that began in the Galway International Rally will all compete in Clonakilty. Those already entered include reigning Irish National Rally champion Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), former West Cork Rally winner (2023) Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Tyrone's Cathan McCourt and Ryan Loughran, both in Ford Fiesta Rally2 cars and former Irish Tarmac champion Darren Gass (VW Polo GTi R5).

Clonakilty drivers Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2) are the top local entries thus far. Entries close next Saturday (February 28th).