Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Cate McCurry

Hundreds travel across Ireland for funeral of rally driver Manus Kelly in Glenswilly, Co Donegal

Hundreds of mourners who attended the funeral of rally driver Manus Kelly have heard that the death of the father-of-five has been a "dreadful shock".

The world of rallying joined family and friends of the champion at his funeral in Glenswilly, Co Donegal.

The 41-year-old was killed in a crash in the Donegal International Rally on Sunday.

Hundreds of people who travelled from across the country spilled outside the grounds of St Columba's Church to watch the funeral on three big screens.

Mourners outside St Columba's Church in Glenswilly, County Donegal, for the funeral of rally driver Manus Kelly (Joe Boland/PA Wire)

The funeral cortege was led by two garda motorbikes and the rally car in which Kelly won the Donegal International Rally.

His son Charlie travelled in the passenger seat of the car.

Four guards of honour lined the route in and out of the church, made up of members from the local GAA clubs, pupils from a local primary school, fellow rally drivers and council workers.

The newly elected Fianna Fail councillor is survived by wife Bernie and their children Annie, Mandy, Charlie, Conan and baby Bella.

Letterkenny , Ireland - 17 June 2018; Manus Kelly in a Subaru Impreza WRC S12B celebrates at the end of stage 20 Glen after winning during the Joule Donegal International Rally - Day 3 in Letterkenny, Donegal (Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was among the mourners as well as Education Minister Joe McHugh.

The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp Commandant Caroline Burke.

Father Paddy Dunne told mourners: "His death has been a dreadful shock to all of us.

"He did a lot for a boy of 41, he lived some life, he didn't sit a minute.

Mourners attend the buriel of the late rally driver Manus "Mandy" Kelly in Conwal graveyard in Donegal (Joe Boland/PA Wire)

"I don't think he realised how he touched people's hearts."

He said Kelly had recently embarked on his career in local politics, adding that he will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Mr Martin previously described Kelly's racing talent as "limitless", adding that he was widely respected and loved by all of the rally community in Ireland.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.