OVER 600 people packed into the Mount Errigal Hotel last night for a tribute night in memory of the late Manus Kelly.
Pictures by Brian McDaid
The Glenswilly man died tragically in June while competing at the 2019 Donegal International Rally – an event he had won in each of the previous three years.
Manus had so many strings to his bow, from his family, to politics, to rallying, Gaelic football, business and life in general.
It was in rallying circles where he was best known. Many competitors and friends turned out to pay their tributes on what was an emotional night of reflection.
Ballyshannon native Sean Perry conducted a public auction with 13 items raising in excess of €70,000. A silent auction took place online at the same time and also proved a huge success.
Denis Ferry and his son, Matthew, traveled the length and breadth of Ireland getting a shirt signed by all previous winners of the Donegal International and the item raised €12,000 last week in New York.
A Memorial Trust has been established in Manus’s honour.
“Our goals are to keep Manus’ legacy and memory alive, and also to assist Manus’s wife Bernie and their children in their future, which is what was at the heart of what Manus lived for,” the Trust says.
The proceeds raised will have a phased distribution and the Trust has four trustees – Donall Barrett, Paul Doyle, Seamus Doherty and Damian Doherty.
