COMPOSER Phil Coulter
has revealed a racy side to himself - that of rally
driver.
The acclaimed singer songwriter drove in rally
competitions for five to six years during the 1970s
and was the race starter for the 2010 Donegal
International Rally.
“Initially my fascination with the whole rallying
thing came when I was supporting Cahal (Curley) and
spectating at events at the Circuit of Ireland or
Donegal and I thought, I want to have a shot at
this.
"I did it for about five to six years and my
favourite event of all was Donegal. Donegal has come
to the fore in recent years and is more popular than
ever. It only confirms what we always knew, that
Donegal was the best rally in the country.”
Phil Coulter and friends during his
days as a rally driver in the 1970s.
Coulter reveals his
enthusiasm for rally driving in a two-part
Irish-language documentary 'An Railí' to be screened
by BBC NI this weekend. It follows the journey of
the Donegal rally from start to finish through the
eyes of the drivers, organisers, volunteers and
fans.
Other participants include former Miss Ireland
Natasha Nic Gharbeith whose businessman husband PJ
McDermott is a well known Donegal rally driver.
While she is not a huge fan of the motor sport; she
does everything she can to support her husband.
Former Miss Ireland Natasha Nic
Garbheith cheers on husband PJ McDermott during the
rally.
“I worry when PJ is out
rallying, especially after his accident two years
ago in Knockalla. It’s a dangerous sport, very fast.
I know the cars are very strong but until he’s back
home safe and sound, my heart’s in my mouth.”
The programme also features Toni Kelly from
Letterkenny who was one of the youngest ever female
drivers to compete in the Donegal Rally.
Burt businessman PJ McDermott in
action during the Donegal Rally at Malin Head.
In the second of the
two-part series the rally arrives and it is time to
see if all the effort, time and money has been worth
it. It follows the journey of the main characters
which also include Terence Diver, a part time driver
and full time rally fanatic and Eamonn McGee, chief
safety marshall and rally fan, Pól Breslin.
The programme also features the cancellation of the
rally in its later stages due to an accident during
the competition in which co-pilot Thomas Maguire was
killed and uncovers how this close knit community
dealt with the tragedy.
Producer Gráinne
McGuinness who has strong Culdaff connections, talks
about the motivation behind making a series like
this. “I wanted to understand why people put so much
time, energy and financial commitment into such a
dangerous sport. The winner receives a glass bowl;
surely this could not be the sole motivation?
Through making these programmes I have discovered
that rallying, quite simply, is an addiction, and
that rally addicts the world over want to compete in
the Donegal event,” she said.
The second programme will be screened on Saturday,
January 29, on BBC2 Northern Ireland at 9pm.
