Aoife Raftery ready for “demanding and tricky” Galway International Rally
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy member Aoife Raftery will get her 2024 season underway on her home event this weekend as the Women in Motorsport ambassador for the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally. Last year the Craughwell-based driver recorded an impressive debut season in the FIA Junior European Rally Championship. She was the first Irish woman to commit to an internationally recognised rally championship since the late and...
Driving in Windy Weather #StormIsha
Met Eireann has issued Orange and Yellow warnings for parts of the country due to Storm Isha. We have some tips for driving in windy weather writes Geraldine Herbert Plan your journey – is there a route with less exposure to the weather and less risk of fallen trees? Choose a sheltered route if you have the option. Be aware of the danger posed by debris that may have blown into the roadway. Wind rarely blows steadily, and a...
Tips For Driving on Frost and Ice
Temperatures will plunge to -4C this weekend so take extra care on the roads writes Geraldine Herbert 1) Ensure you have de-icer and a scraper. Before setting off, make sure you clean any ice or condensation from all the windows and mirrors to optimise visibility. 2) When you set off, do so in second gear, releasing the clutch and accelerating gently, avoiding high revs – this will prevent wheel spin. 3) As you drive, stay in higher...
Ten things to know about the iconic Rosemary Smith
We remember the iconic Rosemary Smith writes Geraldine Herbert Rosemary was born in Dublin in 1937, the youngest of three children. She was smart but hated her strict convent-school education. Her father John Smith, an amateur racer himself, taught Rosemary to drive when she was only 11 and at 16 she secured a driving licence by pretending to be a year older. She attended the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design where she was awarded top...
Car Chat with Rosemary Smith
Still motoring through life at full speed we talk, cars, gadgets and more with former Rally Champion Rosemary Smith. Who taught you to drive? My father, when I was 11 in a big old fashioned Vauxhall in a field. I had to sit on a cushion. What do you drive and what does it say about you? A Ford Focus which is my driving school car and it says I love teaching youngsters to drive. Do you have a favourite car gadget? The radio, if...
Winter Cycling
Let’s face it. We live in Ireland. If we are to wait for fine weather before we venture outdoors, we’d never do anything! If you’re keen to stay on your bicycle this winter, here are a few tips to keep you comfortable, safe, and having fun as the cold, wet weather arrives writes Ruth O’Connor Clothing I’m a firm believer in the old adage, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing”. Nothing takes the joy...