Donegal Motor Club stalwart Francie Devine is this year’s recipient of the Manus Kelly Memorial Cup.
The award, which honours volunteers in memory of Donegal’s ‘King of the Hills’, was presented on Saturday at the Marshal & Motorsport Volunteer Appreciation Awards 2024.
A popular winner, Francie Devine is a dedicated club man who has represented Donegal Motor Club all over Ireland marshalling for well over 30 years and still does having Marshalled at the recent Killarney Historic rally.
Francie Devine is presented The Manus Kelly by Memorial Cup by Stage Commander Caroline Mc Guinness
Francie has done timing, sector marshal stage commander and for many years was chief Marshal along side the late Danny Gormley and Micheal Kelly COC’s at the very popular Knockalla Hillclimb when it was part of the Irish Hillclimb Championship and Hillclimb of the year winners.
Francie also competes as a navigator and during his many years marshalling he has sat with some of Donegal Motor Club’s most entertaining drivers, Ramelton’s Willie Mc Fadden in his G3, John Dolan in his Mk2 Escort, Mark Ewing in his Type R Civic and started the Ulster rally a few times with his Newphew Marty Devine. The results may have been not always been the best but the craic with the crews was always good. He was slightly disappointed that Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera didn’t give him the shout for Killarney but must have heard he was marshalling instead!
Francie who is always up for the craic and banter was clearly humbled and emotional on receiving his well-deserved award having dedicated a large part of his time to Irish Motorsport and remembering his friend Manus Kelly who he watched coming up the ranks to become a historic 3 in a row Donegal International winner.
The Manus Kelly Memorial Trophy
On the night he thanked all volunteers and competitors he had the pleasure of meeting along the stages of Irish motorsport and the great friends he had made along the way and is still making as he joked he got well looked after from many happy residents along the way. Making friends always made coming back a lot easier for marshals, he said.
Now in its 6th year, the appreciation awards recognise the volunteers in motorsport from all over Ireland who volunteer at every motorsport event. These volunteers are needed each year to allow these events events to happen. The event, which took place at the Armagh Rugby Club, was organised by Stage Commander Caroline Mc Guinness (better known as The Rally Mammy) and other Marshals, for the marshals.