GRP4 Fabrications Thomond Mini Stages Rally Officially launched in Rathkeale

There was a fantastic atmosphere on Sunday last (July 13th) at the official launch of the 2025 GRP4 Fabrications Thomond Mini Stages Rally held at Rathkeale House Hotel.

There was rally fever in the air as the warm temperatures allowed for a rare outdoor launch in the Treaty County. Club members gathered with a fantastic spread of rally machinery that are set to take to the stages on August 24th.

The main speaker on the evening was Clerk of the Course Aidan Walsh, the club chairman, who is running his first rally. Aidan thanked the multitude of local sponsors who have come on board to support the event. He also remembered the last running of the event in 1987 and some of the entries that are in are from competitors who took to the roads 38 years ago.

There were a number of special guests at the launch, including TD Richard O’Donoghue, who is a Limerick Motor Club member, and local councillor Ger Ward

The rally is based in the Rathkeale area with limited road mileage for competitors and spectators alike. Title sponsors of the event are Galway-based GRP4 Fabrications, along with associate sponsors Rathkeale House Hotel, Paul Purtill Agri, Tyrestop Rathkeale and Morenane Transport LTD.

Entries are flying in, and there is expected to be a big field of machinery taking to the stages in Rathkeale on August 24th.

Speaking at the launch, Clerk of the Course Aidan Walsh said, “It was great to see so many people at the launch and everyone is really looking forward to getting going. We’ve a great team here in Limerick Motor Club who are working very hard to deliver the best possible event. I want to take a minute to thank all our sponsors, be it the main sponsor, associate sponsors or our stage sponsors. Without their support, there would be no event. It’s great to be remembering such motorsport history in the county as well, and there is plenty organised to celebrate the last running of the event in 1987”