Tipperary’s Stonethrowers Rally postponed as organisers fear road damage in hot weather
A popular Tipperary motorsport event has been postponed due to the hot weather over fears that roads would be damaged.
The Stonethrowers Rally was due to take place this Sunday (July 19) around Clonmel, with Tipperary County Council previously posting about a host of local roads that were to be closed to facilitate the event.
However, now, the organising committee of the rally, Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club (LC&MCC) have stated that the rally will be postponed and will take place at a later date.
In a statement, the club said that they “regret” the decision.
“Following discussions with Tipperary County Council, it was outlined that the current period of hot weather, together with the forecast for continued high temperatures have increased the vulnerability of road surfaces to damage.
“Any damage that could be caused to the roads by running the event on Sunday, would be borne by us, the organising committee,” they explained in their statement.
“As such, the club have taken the decision to postpone to protect the public road infrastructure and continue our good working relationship with Tipperary County Council,” they added.
Many motorsport fans on social media praised the club for the “difficult but understandable” decision, and hoped that the event could be reorganised for later in the year.
Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club said they would work with all stakeholders, including their sponsors, Tipperary County Council and Motorsport Ireland to try and stage the event later in the year once temperatures have cooled down.
One fan said: “I really hope that the club will get a new date soon as they already have the stages picked out and is a great rally.”
Another said: “Probably the best thing to do at the moment until it cools down,” while another added that their club had similar issues a number of years ago.
“Difficult but necessary decision, have empathy for the organising committee as our own club encountered the same dilemma a few years ago. Well done for the sport in general,” they said.
151 drivers had entered to take part in this year’s Stonethrowers Rally, which sees drivers battle it out over 101 kilometres of south Tipperary’s roads.
The rally event was not held in 2025, but the 2024 event was won by Josh Moffett and co-driver Keith Moriarty.