Tribute to Tommy Hughes. Tommy's skills as a stage commander on every Donegal International Rally, and indeed on every other event run by the club, were legendary. A perfectionist, when it came to setting up a rally stage, he was always uncompromising when it came to ensuring the safety of rally spectators and competitors. Such was his reputation with motor clubs throughout the whole Ireland, that his organisational skills and vast experience, were constantly in demand to help run events all over the country. The organisers of most of the high profile events in Ireland, such as the Cork 20, the Galway Summer Rally, the Rally of the Lakes, the Circuit of Ireland, and the Ulster Rally, never considered their event complete until Tommy and his team of hand picked, and highly skilled marshals had been engaged to run some of their stages.
Tommy Hughes was truly a veteran of the sport. His dedication covered some forty years. His first involvement was on the 1960 Circuit of Ireland, and he has officiated continuously at major rallies ever since.
Although Tommy came from Magherafelt, where he was a founder member of Magherafelt and District Motor Club, his heart was always in Donegal. Here, he had been a dedicated member of Donegal Motor Club since the early seventies. He was a familiar face around the village of Kerrykeel, where he had a holiday home, and spent all of his leisure time, but still thought nothing of travelling the distance from Magherafelt, in the middle of winter, to attend Donegal Motor Club meetings and functions.
In 1997, Tommy's valuable contribution to motor sport was at last recognised. At the Vauxhall Motor Sports Awards dinner of that year, Tommy was presented with the Motor Sport Marshal of the Year Award. At the ceremony, Mike Nicholson of Vauxhall Motor Sport told the assembled motor sport celebrities and guests, "It is a privilege for Vauxhall to be associated with these awards. Ireland has always been an excellent training ground for motor sport." "It's fantastic to be able to honour the efforts of motor sport enthusiasts in this way. Tommy's dedication and commitment has not gone unnoticed. His contribution has been vital to the ongoing success of the sport." Donegal Motor Club also recognised Tommy's valuable contribution to rallying in the county, when he received the Clubman of the Year award on three different occasions.
Tommy Hughes had a mint of stories of his experiences of four decades in rallying, with which he could entertain a gathering for hours. For him, his most enduring memory, was the visit of the legendary "Flying Finn", Ari Vatenan, to the Donegal International Rally of 1978, the likes of which he believed would never be seen again. He was a very witty man, who also had a mischievous sense of humour, which endeared him to everyone who knew him. There are countless stories of his exploits at different events up and down the country. A combination of Tommy's determination and a bit of friendly banter overcame many an awkward spectator problem.
Tommy was one of the hundreds of people in rallying who work behind the scenes, whose faces are rarely known to the thousands of spectators who enjoy the sport. Together, with his dedicated team, he has worked in all weathers, at all hours of the day and night, an din all parts of the country, to ensure the safety of rally crews and spectators alike. Once again, and so soon, rallying has lost yet another one of its brightest lights, who can never be replaced. He will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him.
Tommy was pre-deceased by his beloved Bridie, some seven years ago.
To his nephews, nieces, and the wide family circle, we offer our most profound sympathy. Courtesy of Donegal Motor Club and Tony Horner.
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