Jenna McCann
Age: 22 years old
Occupation: Social Care worker
Rallying has always been a massive deal in my house even since before I was born. My father and uncle had numerous rally cars throughout the years so it is definitely in the blood. I have always had an interest in getting involved in motorsport of some shape or form. I did go karting for many years before I first started rallying. Rallying really only took off for me in 2015 when I got a Peugeot 106. I competed in 4 events in the car before moving on to a Ford Fiesta R2 which I still have now. In 2016 I competed in Class 2 and Group R in the National Championship and took wins in both. I have also navigated a few times in an Evo 7 and Honda Civic which I really enjoyed but for me nothing compares to being behind the wheel!! I've done some gravel events lately in an Evo 7 which I really liked too. It's nice to experience a four-wheel drive car like that. This year I am competing in the Irish Tarmac Championship and am currently leading the junior category with only two rounds to go.
Olive Esler
Occupation: TV Presenter
Olive Esler hails from Ardrahan, Co. Galway and is the television presenter of The Triton Showers National Rally Championship and The Valvoline National Forestry Championship with On the Limit Sports for TG4, BT Sports and Motors TV. The rally championships have brought Olive all around the country in the last three years where she has been reporting from the stages, interviewing the championship drivers and keeping us all entertained on the @onthelimitsport Snap Chat. Equally at home behind the camera Olive is a celebrity guest booker and has worked with TV3’s The Six O’Clock Show with Lucy Kennedy and Martin King and RTE’s The Today Show with Maura Derrane and Daithi O’Se.
Ita Doonan
Age: 37 years old
Occupation: Trainer and Brand Manager
When I was sixteen/seventeen years old I marshalled at my first event. Shortly after that I joined the local motor club” Enniskillen Motor Club” and while being with the club I completed many duties from safety officer right through to clerk of the course. When I was twenty-two years old I became the youngest female COC (clerk of the course) in Northern Ireland. I competed in both sides of the car in the early 2000's but like most when finances didn’t allow my love of driving my rally car was sold and I had to make do with just navigating through the remainder of that decade. During this time I also worked for a local media company SVS who gave me the opportunity to be involved in interviewing, camera work filming on the stages as well as editing towards programmes which aired from local TV to reaching worldwide via SKY. In 2013 I was approached and asked to become involved in the Irish Forest Rally Championship so in 2014 I took over as Championship Registrar and am now in my 3rd year in that position. I have enjoyed being part of a team who has worked hard to bring a new perspective to the championship and in turn assist in boosting its profile. I’m still helping clubs all over Ireland in whatever capacity required from timing to results.
Olivia Coulter
Age: 24 years old
Occupation: Architectural Estimator
I started navigating for my dad in a Ford Anglia back in 2008 and really enjoyed it. However, my love for motorsport really grew when I took over the driving seat back in 2014. Since then I have competed in local clubman rallies, hill climbs and sprints. I have been 1st in the historic class of the Northern Ireland sprint championship for 2 years running and in 2015 I won the ANICC Marshalls Driver of the year award.
Aoife Gahan;
Age: 18 years old
Occupation: Student
My love for rallying came from my dad, Tom, at a very young age. I love going to rallies with him. I was never far from the garage growing up and even though my jobs were always some sort of form of cleaning, I still classified myself as a mechanic! My god father was the great Frank Meagher and even though I had only turned three when he passed and don't have much memories with him, his amazing talent as a rally driver is still fondly remembered and recognised today. Through Irish rallying I have made some wonderful lifelong friends and that's what makes rallying so special to me.
Leah Crozier
Age: 19 years old
Occupation: Student
I have always been involved in the rally scene from a very young age through my father’s lifestyle, rallying is a huge part of my life. I'm proud to be part of our team at Crozier Motorsport securing multiple titles with my personal highlight being the Irish tarmac, and the celebrating that goes along with it! Maybe this year will be our year to win Donegal rally, there's a first for everything!
Kirsty McKenna
Age: 20
Occupation: Business Development Executive
I've been involved in rallying my whole life as my grandfather Terry Hegarty used to compete. When I became old enough, I started going to rallies and helping my uncle and grandfather with their TV Production business. For the last 2 years I have been working with the Irish Forest Rally Championship, promoting and updating on social media. I love every minute of the rallies, making lifelong friends and having the craic!
Brenda Gordon
Age: 42
Occupation: Customers Service
I run a team who provide the radio safety network to rallies in NI. We supply and fit all the kit and all the manpower to run it. We track the cars from they enter stage until they leave and provide the communications net for the organisers. Usually first out and last home on an event. Also referred to as mushrooms....... Kept in the dark & fed dirt!!
Grace O’Brien
Age: 28 years old
Occupation: Assistant Fresh Food Buyer
I have been around motorsport my entire life, thanks to my dad James. I began navigating at 16 in night navs with my dad which was a baptism of fire! I took a few years out from motorsport but became involved again in the last 5 years. I have since competed in over 50 rallies, navigating on both tarmac and forestry events and won the overall navigators title with Cork Motor Club in 2015; probably the only trophy I will have with my name beside my dad’s! I also do gravel notes for Roy White and marshal at events when I can. When I’m not found at rallies I love to travel with family and friends, take part in mini marathons or baby triathlons, or head to concerts with friends.
Lisa O’Dowd
Age: 28
Occupation: Team Leader
I have been involved in motorsports since a young age helping out at all the local events and marshalling as soon as I could. I first navigated with my cousin Kevin in his Honda Civic and then went on to call notes for Carlow’s George Condell in his Mk2 escort winning the Laois heartlands Juniors and he then upgraded to the Toyota Starlet. I have also navigated for Cavan’s Stephen McCann in his Evo we received some great results with 3rd overall in Banna 2013,and went on to take part in the Irish Tarmac championship in 2014 where I placed 2nd in the Group N. In recent years I can also be found reading a map at night while competing in Night Navigational Trails with the other half Andrew Beamish. I took a break from competing in 2015/2016 to have my little girl, but enjoyed helping out at events marshalling and being chief tea maker in service! I will be back on the stages soon!
Triona Browne
Age: 35 years old
Occupation: Yummy Mummy!
I have been involved in the rally scene since the age of 18. I don't take part in rallies but I marshal with the five counties marshal club. I am the person standing out on the road from early morning making sure everything is safe for the drivers and the public who come as spectators. I have been going to view rallies from a very young age and I think that is where my passion of rallying came from.
Megan Conway
Age: 21 years old
Occupation: Student Veterinary Nurse.
I was brought to my first rally at 6 months old and I guess my love for rallying started from then. I use to go and watch as many rallies as I could with my dad. I’ve always known I wanted to be involved in rallying somehow as I used to own my very own race suit, I wore it so often and used to kick up a fuss when it was being washed that my parents invested in a couple more for me. I remember making a deal with my mum that if I wore my communion dress for the church then I could wear my race suit and attend my local rally afterwards. Safe to say I was, and still am rally mad. I then got to the age for marshalling so I started doing this at every event possible and loved every minute. I attended the marshal’s day in Mondello Park one year and got a couple of spins with various rally cars and from that day I was determined to get into the 'silly' seat as it is called. The start of 2016 saw me take to my first ever event as a navigator. I competed in the Carrick on Suir forest rally which happened to be the first round of the Irish forestry rally championship. I fell so in love with competing and the people running the championship that I convinced the guy I navigated for to sign us up. To my amazement we ended up placing 3rd overall juniors in the championship. Just as I thought I was hanging my gear up for 2016 I got an offer to sit in 00 for the Killarney Historic rally. This was my first ever tarmac event and I loved every second of that too. 2017 has unfortunately been quite for me as I am studying in Wales and I just cannot fund my passion. I did, however, get to compete in my local rally for the first time ever - the Raven’s Rock rally my first ever competitive tarmac event. I have marshalled at a couple of events so far as I simply cannot live without rallying in some shape or form. I hope to really get into co-driving a lot more once I have graduated college.
... and last but by no means least
Brid Brady
Age: 22 years old
Occupation: Hospitality Industry
I have been going to rallies all my life every family Sunday day out was spent at a Rally. When I started to get older I became more and more interested. By the time I was 18 I started marshaling and soon became secretary of the five counties marshals club, This was when I found my love for marshaling. Since then I have been to every rally that I could. In the future, I would love to put down the yellow flag and pick up the steering wheel.