The boy from Millstreet who became the king of rally

In the history of rallying in Ireland, one name stands out above all others for the respect in which he is held and the ability he demonstrated behind the wheel of the cars — predominantly Fords — that he drove.

That person is the remarkable Billy Coleman, the man from Millstreet in County Cork who even today, long after he hung up his driving gloves, remains the stuff of legend.

Billy started driving competitively in 1966 while still a student at University College Cork.