Donegal Rally: Emotional scenes as Teighearnàn Kelly crosses a familiar ramp

The emotion was palpable as Teighearnàn Kelly revved the Civic towards the entrance of the Mount Errigal Hotel on Sunday evening.

It was around 7.45pm and the Glenswilly man couldn't hide his pride as he drove over the finish ramp of the Donegal International Rally for the first time.

This one was always going to rise the emotions. It is fours years now since Manus Kelly, his older brother and an icon of this event, was tragically killed while competing in the 2019 version.

The Civic's livery included a rooftop tribute to Manus, a three-time winner of the Donegal International Rally: 'Thanks for the memories. The King of the Hills'.

Brother's touching tribute to 'King of the Hills', Manus Kelly

Teighearnàn Kelly has included a rooftop tribute to his late brother on the Honda Civic in which he'll drive at this weekend's Donegal International Rally

“It was emotional,” the 33-year-old said. “It's hard for the family. Fair play to them, they're a great support.

“It's my first Donegal so this is unreal. It's special to go over a ramp I watched Manus go over many times.”

A large crowd from the Kelly clan were at the finish ramp. A familiar place for Teighearnàn and company but now he was at the wheel.

“A few of the family are here and I'm looking forward to seeing them all.”

In 2017, he competed in Donegal in the Junior event, but didn't finish, while he has tackled the Harvest Stages Rally in the past.

With Conal Doherty alongside him, the pair were sixth in Class 11F. It was a class dominated by Donegal crews and won by Kevin McLaughlin, also in a Civic, by a comfortable margin.

Kelly said: “The stages were great craic. I enjoyed it and I'm glad to be in and finished. It was tough but enjoyable. I loved it. It's nice to be back in the car. It took a wee while to get warmed up again, but we had a good run.”