Citroen Car Rally returns in style
After an enforced absence of two years due to the pandemic, the all-Ireland Citroen Car Rally returned, establishing its headquarters in the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
This provided excellent roads as well as the opportunity to explore the many treasures of the counties that skirt the Wild Atlantic Way.
The main group of participants arrived on Thursday, 23rd June for the welcoming ‘Meet and Greet’, making the most of the long weekend ahead of the few other participants whose work commitments held them over until the following day. In all 80 cars took part, representing the wide catalogue of Citroen vehicles – the popular, the innovative and the exclusive.
The Friday drive saw the cars depart early to skirt Donegal Town and head west to Glenties, before embarking on the challenging R250 to Fintown on the edge of Lake Finn. Main attraction here was the trip on an original County Donegal Railway’s railcar along the three-mile lake shore to enjoy its beauty at close quarters.
After this, the cars proceeded to the outskirts of Ballybofey to join the N5 and sweep south through Barnesmore Gap for a lunch stop at Biddie O’Barnes. Well nourished, the drivers and crew then continued on the N5 to Donegal Town and an opportunity to visit the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre. Afterwards the rally returned to their hotel base for a group dinner and an opportunity to meet the new arrivals.
Saturday morning once again began early to make the most of the day and a drive through Ballyshannon to visit the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre. Crossing into Co Fermanagh for lunch at Tully Mill provided a welcomed break before heading to Marble Arch Caves and the opportunity to embark on a one-hour tour though the 1.5km underground experience.
Having suitably explored the caves, the cars left late afternoon for the 45-mile return trip to Bundoran, concluding that evening with the Rally Gala Dinner and Citroen Quiz.
Sunday saw the cars travel through Co Leitrim to visit the grave of W.B. Yates at Drumcliffe, Co Sligo, returning on a costal drive to lunch, and Rally Close at the Pier Head Hotel in Mullaghmore.
Citroen’s DS saloons were well represented with four saloons and an extremely rare convertible. The oldest car was a 1962 2CV AZ 375cc owned by event organiser, Joe Mc Gilloway while Citroen’s Italian marriage was represented by the first rally appearance of David Graham’s Maserati powered SM.
A British built Light 15 provided 1950s nostalgia while the Pluriel represented the most versatile interpretation of the motor car by any manufacturer. Other featured cars included the 2CV Dolly, GS Club, Dyane, and C5 variants.