Commission

Willie Barrett

Commission Member & Vice Chair of Limerick Motor Club

My first motor sport event was hot rods in Tipperary raceway(Rose Green) in 2000. I’m interested in all kinds of motorsport, be it Hillclimbs, WRC, Dakar, Moto GP, Drifting, F1 , BTCC, V8 supercars, Isle of Man TT. Plans for 2025, do as little damage as possible !

In 2025 my specific Commission responsibilities are :-

• Pre event writeup.
• Post event writeup.
• General getting stuff done !

Ben O Brien

Commission Secretary

I have been hillclimbing since 2010, starting out in an ex Denis Hogan Honda Civic Class 1 car, moved on to various home built BMW saloons before winning my first saloon championship in 2017 in another Denis Hogan car – a supercharged E36 M3 (See a trend forming!?)
Currently I Hillclimb a Gould GR37 Single Seater. This is a purpose built carbon Hillclimb car powered by an ex F1 JUDD V8 engine, pushing out over 600bhp while weighing just over 500kg. I plan to do the full Hillclimb and Sprint Championship in 2025 and also to hopefully win the St Goueno Masters event in France in the Gould for the second time.

In 2025 my specific Commission responsibilities are :-

• Commission secretary.
• Classes/RC1s/Rules interface to Motorsport Ireland.
• Media liaison.

Adrian Codd

Commission Member.

I have been involved in Motorsport for over 25 years and am a member of Wexford Motor Club for which I had the honour of been appointed Chairperson in 2022 & 2023.

I am an experienced volunteer and have officiated in numerous roles’ for several disciplines including Deputy COC for the Wexford Stages Rally from 2021-2024 & COC for the Wexford Hillclimb Weekend in 2017 & 2019. I have had a huge interest in Hillclimbing since I first volunteered at the Wexford Hill climb in the late 90s and was appointed to the Hillclimb Commission in 2024. I have been appointed as MI Safety Delegate for the M.E.C Sprint Weekend for 2025 and plan to volunteer at a number of events while also working with my fellow commission members to continue to raise the profile of Hillclimbing in Ireland.

In 2025 my specific Commission responsibilities are :-

• Aid in the compilation of a training package for officials and volunteers at Hillclimb events.
• Advertising for Hillclimb events.

Tommy Gardiner

Commission Member.

I am presently a member of Galway Motor club and started off in Motorsport in 2008 in Midget Car Racing. Progressed or digressed? into Autocross in Cavan MC’s Latton Quarry event in a 1200cc Honda Blackbird Buggy. Got tired of being wet all the time and bought my first Honda Civic. ETM in Co. Clare built the present Civic to go rallying and while shaking it down at a few Hillclimbs, I got to like the events and as they say, the rest is history. I like the camaraderie and the craic over a hillclimb weekend and the folks you meet. In 2023 I was honored to receive the Milliard Award for a competitors contribution to Motorsport. Plans for 2025 are to compete in the Hillclimb & Sprint Championship as well as events in the Isle of Man & the St. Goueno Masters event in France.

In 2025 my specific Commission responsibilities are :-

• Competitor liaison & queries.
• Championship registrar.
• Championship results compilation.
• Upkeep of the Irishhillclimb.com website.

Siobhan Mc Cann

Commission Member & Chair of Trials Commission

I was brought up with Motorsport and started competing with my Dad in Sporting Trials at 14 years old. A few years later I became a committee member of MEC and started volunteering and running events for the club including the Wicklow Rally, Race meetings, Hillclimbs, Sporting Trials and Autotests. I then joined the Hillclimb commission and in 2008 I also started competing on Hills.

I am currently Chair of the Trials commission. I am planning on competing in St Goueno this year with the Irish Team and competing in the Alekto Hillclimb and Sprint championship and sporting trials.

In 2025 my specific Commission responsibilities are :-

• Dick Bailey award results compilation.
• Championship class sponsor liaison.
• Minutes & documentation for Commission meetings.

Ultan Mc Gowan

Commission Member

I have been a member of Connacht Motor since 2006. Started competing on rallies in 2006 as a navigator. I won the Irish 205 challenge in 2007 as a navigator and then won the Irish 205 challenge in 2008 in the same car as a driver! Competed in rallies and Hills as a driver and navigator up to the present day.

I plan to compete in a number of Irish Hillclimbs in 2025 and as well as navigate in the Irish Forestry Championship.
I was COC for Connacht’s Hillclimb in 2021 which was the first running of the event in over 50 years. I also will be COC for the Sligo Stages Rally in 2025 plus be part of the organising team for the Connacht Hillclimb in August 2025.

In 2025 my specific Commission responsibilities are :-

• Printed materials design and liasion
• Upkeep of the Hillclimb competitors log.