CLARE STAGES RALLY 1991

The 1991 event changed venue to Lisdoonvarna at the King Thomond Hotel with the stages in the Burren-Ruan area.  A very healthy entry was received with Frank Meagher seeded number one in his Sierra Cosworth.  Billy Connolly and James McDaid were both in BMW’s, Donie Keating in his Metro 6R4 with Luke McCarthy in his Manta 400 and Stephen Murphy in his Sierra Cosworth. 

Donie Keating set the pace with Billy Connolly second even with intercom difficulties.  Luke McCarthy and Stephen Murphy were equal third with Frank Meagher in 5th bedding himself in after his Donegal accident.  But Frank upped his pace on SS4 and on the next few stages he fought his way up to the lead.  Donie was having gearbox trouble and Bill had trouble with tyre choice, picking two soft of a compound.  A stub axle put Stephen Murphy out, also Declan Wilmott retired. 

Paul O’Connell from Ennis had hired a GpN Cosworth from Kenny McKinstry and was lying third in the class until they retired on the last stage.  John O’Sullivan finished 9th overall, the highest CMC crew and won the Noel McCullagh award.  Pat and Jim Casey won the 1600 class.  But it was Frank Meagher and Dermot O’Gormans day when they set a blistering pace over the second half of the rally to win from Donie Keating with Luke McCarthy in third place.  The Woodchester Clare Stages Rally was another big success with David Hogan and his team doing a brilliant job.