VINTAGE SHAMROCK VICTORS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

18th May 2026

  • Frazer Nash team take top honours on Irish adventure for pre-war cars
  • Four days of memorable competition and camaraderie
  • Emerald Isle delivers wonderful hospitality and exceptional driving routes
  • Three more epic events on Rally the Globe’s 2026 calendar

 

Following the huge success of the latest edition of the award-winning Generations Rally, Rally the Globe’s focus switched to Ireland for another of the much-loved springtime staples on its calendar: the ever-popular Vintage Shamrock (11-14 May), run in conjunction with Irish Racing Green.

Now in its seventh edition, the annual celebration reserved exclusively for pre-war machinery returned to the mountains, farmlands and country estates of Ireland’s spectacular South East, delivering breathtaking scenery, warm hospitality and plenty of thrilling competition on both asphalt and gravel surfaces. The Vintage Shamrock also enjoyed enthusiastic support from Chubb, NFP, Cauvery Wealth and RM Sotheby’s.

An impressive field of 58 captivating cars assembled on the banks of Blessington Lake and the River Liffey. Dating back more than a century, an evocative 1921 Vauxhall 30/98 had the honour of being the oldest car on the entry list, while iconic marques including Alvis, Aston Martin, Bentley, Frazer Nash, MG, Riley and Talbot were all strongly represented.

Following pre-event technical scrutineering and participant sign-on at County Wicklow’s luxurious Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, and bathed in welcome spring sunshine, intrepid crews made their way to the start. Ahead lay four days of exceptional motoring along a 540-mile route featuring 15 Tests and 13 Regularities across some of Ireland’s finest open roads and ever-changing landscapes.

At the end of the opening day’s competition, it was the 1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 315 of Shane Houlihan and Ali Procter that set the early pace, closely pursued by the 1934 Talbot AV95/105 Special of Austin and Heather Baird and the 1925 Bentley 3/4½ of Jonathan Procter and Jason Dearden.

En route to a well-earned overnight stop at the five-star Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny, day two’s action-packed 160-mile itinerary included four Tests and four Regularities, alongside a number of Route Checks and Time Controls designed to keep navigators fully focused. Highlights in the Wicklow countryside included a gravel test at Rathsallagh House, a Regularity through the beautifully manicured Ballinacor Estate, lunch at Lisnavagh House and a Time Control with refreshments at Shankill Castle, home and studio of artist Elizabeth Cope.

While The Shamrockers trad-folk trio provided lively evening entertainment, the Rally the Globe team undertook the more serious business of calculating the day’s scores. The tallies revealed that the Frazer Nash had extended its advantage at the top of the leaderboard, now chased by the 1927 Bentley 3/4½ of Jack and Olivia Brien and the 1936 Riley 12/4 of Simon and Claire Corry. The Bentley and Talbot Special that had occupied the top three after day one had slipped to 12th and 36th respectively in the halfway standings.

Stretching crews even further, the third day’s 157-mile route wound through the rugged, traffic-free mountain roads of Kilkenny, Waterford and Tipperary.

Standout moments included a windswept, gorse-lined moorland Regularity and challenging Tests on loose gravel tracks lined with blossom-laden fruit trees, before descending a slick and slippery grass airstrip en route to a well-earned dinner back in the medieval city of Kilkenny.

Houlihan and Procter continued to dominate in their seemingly unstoppable Frazer Nash, further extending their lead over the Bentley of the Briens. However, with the Corrys dropping back to fifth, another Riley moved into the top three — the 1936 Kestrel of Kenny MacEwan and Susan Godfrey.

Though slightly shorter, the final full day of the Vintage Shamrock proved every bit as captivating and challenging, featuring four Tests and three tricky Regularities. Standout sections included a blast around Kiltorcan Raceway to clear away the overnight cobwebs, a measured run through the gorselands of Kilkenny and a final dash around the Lyrath car park under the critical gaze of fellow competitors.

At the top of the leaderboard there was no stopping long-time pacesetters Houlihan and Procter in their indomitable Frazer Nash, but behind them the order changed dramatically. The Briens’ previously faultless Bentley had fuelling issues and dropped to 40th overall, leaving multiple Rally the Globe winners Graham and Marina Goodwin to uphold Bentley honours in second place after leapfrogging the Riley Kestrel of MacEwan and Godfrey. It marked an impressive comeback from the experienced Goodwins, who had ended the opening day down in 19th position.

It was the Frazer Nash crew, however, spraying the champagne at the finish line, and they were understandably thrilled with their success.

“I’m delighted to have won,” enthused a smiling Houlihan who, as a founding member of Irish Racing Green, was doubly proud. “Nothing compares to the Vintage Shamrock – I think it’s the premier event for pre-war cars on the calendar. We’ve had a wonderful week: fantastic scenery, wonderful routes, some great Regularity sections and some amazing Tests.”

Competing on the Shamrock for the first time in six years, Procter was equally delighted to triumph on his return. “I’ve been itching to come back,” he revealed. “Ireland is a great place to go rallying; it’s a lovely country and the people are so welcoming. The quality of the organisation was excellent and they really did find some beautiful roads and secured some great venues – exactly what I expected from Rally the Globe.”

Houlihan and Procter were not the only ones celebrating as the curtain came down on another truly memorable Vintage Shamrock. The Spirit of the Rally award, sponsored by Chubb and NFP, was presented to event stalwarts Andrew and Philippa Bailey in recognition of their willingness to lend a helping hand whenever fellow competitors needed assistance.

Mark Appleton, Rally the Globe’s Chief Operating Officer, praised everyone involved in delivering another hugely successful event. “The Vintage Shamrock continues to capture everything that makes Rally the Globe events so special – fantastic cars, adventurous routes, great competition and an unbeatable sense of camaraderie,” he said. “A huge thank you goes to all the crews, marshals, event partners, landowners and the team at Irish Racing Green for helping create another unforgettable week in Ireland. The enthusiasm and spirit throughout the event were exceptional, and we’re already looking forward to returning next spring for another cracking Shamrock adventure.”

As a heads up for 2027, next year’s Shamrock Rally will take participants from County Meath to explore the wild beauty of County Donegal and the north. Entries will open imminently.

In the meantime, after staging two highly successful annual favourites on the Rally the Globe calendar, attention now turns to three exciting new European escapades.

Next up, the Nordic Challenge will offer a demanding route through the forests and fjords of Scandinavia, followed by the Vintage El Clavel – another competitive adventure for older cars — set amid the dramatic landscapes of north-west Spain.

The year concludes with Rally the Globe’s first-ever non-competitive event. Discover Sicily will take entrants on a magical 10-day premium driving tour beginning in Puglia, southern Italy, before crossing the Strait of Messina to explore the rich cultural, historic, scenic and gastronomic highlights of the Mediterranean’s largest island.

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