TRIBUTES FOR ‘GREAT MAN’ KELLY AFTER TRAGIC DEATH
Hundreds attend three-time Donegal winner’s funeral as rally community reels over loss
Tributes have poured in from across the world of rallying following the death of threetime Donegal International winner Manus Kelly.
The 41-year-old was killed on this year’s event after crashing his Hyundai i20 on the final day’s opening stage, Fanad
Head, last month.
Hundreds of mourners attended the popular driver’s funeral last week, which was held at St Columba’s Church in Glenswilly, with the service shown on large screens outside the church and streamed online.
The corsage was led by the Melvyn Evans-prepared Subaru Impreza S12B WRC which Kelly had driven to all three of his Donegal victories.
Dignitaries including Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and a representative of the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) were in attendance.
Also present at the funeral was Kelly’s co-driver Donall Barrett, who had been taken to hospital following the crash with a broken collarbone and bruising.
Eugene Donnelly, three-time winner of Donegal and a five-time Irish Tarmac champion, paid tribute to his rival.
“I have known Manus a long time,” he told MN. “I took him for his first spin in a World Rally Car when I was driving the Toyota Corolla and then the Skoda Fabia [both were campaigned in the Irish Tarmac Championship].
“We were both close and Manus made such a huge impact on the sport. It’s still really raw; I haven’t really talked that much about it. It has affected drivers differently and we will all return to the sport in our own way.”
The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship also paid tribute to Kelly, describing him as “a unique individual who bestowed his incredible warmth of character upon everyone he met”.
“His enthusiasm for rallying was infectious and the rally community will mourn the loss of not only a true competitor, but of a great man,” it added.
The father-of five had recently been elected on to Donegal County Council where he won a seat for the Fianna Fail party, and he was also a very successful businessman who was heavily involved in the local community.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.