The governing body of four-wheel sport in the Irish Republic has confirmed that 35-year-old Gene McDonald from Coot🐎ehill in County Cavan was the driver, and 46-year-old Daire Maguire from Lisnaskea 🐬in County Fermanagh the co-driver. 

Both decease🐼d – who were well-known within Irish rallying circles – we🤪re very experienced and had more than 30 years’ combined experience taking part in closed-road competitions. 

The pair suffered fatal injuries when the car they were competing in – a Class 13 Fꦇord E♋scort Mk2 – collided with a wall around three o’clock on Sunday afternoon.

An investigation into the accident, which happened at Carrowcushcly in Ballymote, County Sligo, has since been launched by investigators from An Gaꦏrda Siochana.

Representatives from Motorsport Ireland are assisting this, with its President Aiden Harper confirming the governing body is also looking into the tragedy that led to the event being halted af🙈ter stage six of nine.

“Th൩e thoughts of everyone at Motorsport Ireland and within the wider motorsport community continue to be with the McDonald and Maguire families and friends, the organisers of the event and other members of the motorsport community who were p🃏resent at the scene,” part of a short statement from Motorsport Ireland read.

Following the acꦰcident, organisers from Connacht 🐼Motor Club quickly communicated that the event was being halted. Prior to this, Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 driver Callum Devine was provisionally leading from the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 of defending National champion, Josh Moffett.

Wales’ Meirion Evans, who had made the trip over to take part as a warm-up for next month’s Ulster International Rally, said: “A very sa🧸d ending to the Sligo Stages yesterday. 

“Our thoughts are with the friends and families of those involved, as well as everyone who was at tꦓhe scene. A very sad day for the sport we all♐ love.”

Former Irish Tarmac Rally champion Garry Jennings said he was c𝓡onfident the outcome of the investigations would lead to improvements in safety for competitors. “We are a very close-knit community,” said Jennings. “I must say, it is a sad day for our sport.”