RALLY fever has Donegal in its grips this week as the county builds up to the biggest weekend in the motoring calendar.
Drivers, cars, fans, hotels, restaurants, and pubs are all gearing up – and the Donegal producer of an acclaimed TV documentary about the rally as hailed it as a “positive story for the whole county”.
Award-winning filmmaker Sonia Nic Giolla Easbuig framed the county in a beautiful light for her four-part Irish-language film TG4 Taobh Thiar den Roth – Donegal International Rally that aired last month on TG4.
She is filming across the county again this week, from Gaoth Dobhair and Gortahork to Letterkenny and Rathmullan, talking to everyone involved in the Donegal International Rally.
TV producer Sonia Nic Giolla Easbuig of LIGID Léiriúcháin Teo with her crew for TG4 documentary Taobh Thiar den Roth – Donegal International Rally.
Sonia of production company LIGID Léiriúcháin Teo told the Donegal News: “It’s very important to get positive message out there that the Donegal International Rally.
“After the first series aired, we got so many messages from people, saying that they knew little about the rally but they now have a better perspective of it.
“We are making a human interest documentary about the love that young people have for the rally. They are the nicest bunch of people.
“It’s important to get word out that it is a lovely event and generates a lot of money for the whole county.”
She added: “The rally is a phenomenal event, run by amazing people.”
The rally attracts over 70,000 spectators and around 400,000 viewers annually on TV and online.
Hundreds of rally fans are expected to arrive into Letterkenny from Thursday with campsites and hotels already busy with bookings.
The 2026 Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally is scheduled to blast off this Friday, June 19 in Letterkenny, with the winning drivers to cross the finish line on Sunday, June 21.
Key stage include some of the most scenic – but toughest – stages across the county, including Knockalla Coast Road, Fanad Head, Atlantic Drive, Brennagh, and Letterleague.
Irish-language film TG4 Taobh Thiar den Roth – Donegal International Rally.
Sonia previously told the Donegal News that her TG4 show is not about young people doing donuts on public roads.
She said: “I think some people, when they think of the rally, they think of young people doing donuts and that kind of thing. But it is much more than that.”
The documentary Taobh Thiar den Roth – Donegal International Rally gave viewers a rare insight into one of Europe’s most famous rallies and gives access to the drivers, co-drivers, mechanics, and safety crews.
A second series has been commissioned and due to air later this year.
Sonia said last night: “We are busy filming previews of the rally and we’ve been talking with a great young man called Phelim MacGowan.
“He is from Gortahork and we are following his journey. He is a plumber in his early 20s and opened a business just three months ago.
“But he closed the shop so he can part in the rally. There are so many amazing people involved.
“There is another driver who is a lifeguard and his navigator is flying home from Australia. These are fantastic, human interest stories.”
She added: “We’ll also be looking back at the star’s of the last series and we’ll see how things go for them this year. It’s really exciting.
“We are going to follow the teams out the back of Errigal and going into Letterkenny. We are very excited about it all.
“It is in Gweedore this year and will be passing Phelim’s house. It’s just great. We are really looking forward to it.”
The Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally 2026 runs from Friday, June 19, to Sunday, June 21.