Ireland appoints clerk and deputy clerk of course.

The organisers of the Rally Ireland announced the appointment of its clerk and deputy clerk of the course on Friday for its inaugural round in the FIA World Rally Championship in November next year.

Tom Walsh, best known in Irish rallying as Billy Coleman's former team manager, is to take on the mantle of clerk of the course, whilst Belfast-born Fred Gallagher will be deputy clerk of the course.

Welcoming the announcement of the new team members at Rally Ireland, ANICC Secretary and Rally Ireland Steering Committee member Nicky Moffitt said: "We're delighted that Tom and Fred have agreed to come on board as clerk and deputy clerk of the course for the first ever Rally Ireland WRC.

"Their appointment further reinforces that we have the skills and world-class talent here in Ireland, north and south, to make Rally Ireland WRC one of the best rounds of the championship next year."

A statement from Rally Ireland added:

"Gallagher has an impressive track record in rallying going back almost 30 years, competing as co-driver from 1981-1991 and again as recently as 1999. He also has three Safari Rally wins under his belt and has competed in almost 60 countries, from Ireland to the Ivory Coast.

"Gallagher maintains his position as clerk of the course at Wales Rally GB, where he has served for the last 10 years. In addition, he has undertaken rally consultancy work in the US and Middle East and was strategy manager to the Nissan Rally Raid Team for the 2003 and 2004 Dakar Rallies. He is also active as an FIA Steward and delegate in the World Cross Country Cup.

"Walsh, meanwhile, has been a familiar name in Irish Rallying since the mid-1970's, not only in his role as Coleman's team manager at the peak of his success, but also for his work as co-ordinator for numerous international teams and his chairmanship of the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association.

"A Limerick native, Walsh now lives in Westport, where he is manager of the local Allied Irish Bank. He is a former member of the Motorsport Ireland Rallies Committee and is very much involved with his local club, Mayo and District Motor Club."