New Officers Elected at Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI)

Published on 8 February, 2024

Daragh Keany succeeds Joe Rayfus as Chairperson

Overview

Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI) gathered in Dublin this week for their Annual General Meeting (AGM), where new officers were elected to the MMAI Committee for 2024.

Daragh Keany succeeds Joe Rayfus as the new Chair of the MMAI. Mark Noble was elected as the new Vice-Chair, the role formerly held by Daragh. It was unanimously agreed that David Walshe, Martin McCarthy and Caroline Kidd will remain in their respective roles of Secretary, Treasurer and PRO.

Michael Sheridan and Paul White were elected to the Awards Executive and will be joined by the Chair Daragh Keany to oversee the planning and organisation of the annual Irish Car of the Year and Irish Van of the Year awards, Ireland’s most prestigious and widely recognised motoring accolades for over 40 years. Only members of the MMAI are eligible to vote in these awards, which determine the best new cars and vans to be launched each year. 

Joe Rayfus and John Galvin were elected to join Vice-Chair Mark Noble on the Association’s Members Executive, which oversees membership criteria. Membership of the MMAI is restricted to media professionals currently producing original motoring related content in Ireland, with membership eligibility reviewed on an annual basis. 

Speaking at the AGM, Daragh Keany, newly elected Chair of the MMAI, said: “It is a huge honour to be chosen by my motoring peers as Chairman of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland.

“Joining forces in 2022, the MMAI (a consolidation of the IMWA and the APMP) became Ireland’s largest collection of motoring journalists from the worlds of print, online, TV and radio.

“Over the next 12 months I hope to do the Association proud hosting several industry events including the Irish Car of the Year Awards next November, which is the pinnacle of the Irish motoring calendar.

“I would like to thank my predecessor Joe Rayfus who was instrumental in creating the group and taking on the chairmanship for the first two years of its existence.

“It is an extremely exciting time for the motor industry with increased car sales, more and more people embracing new technology and powertrains, existing cars being improved, new cars being launched and new brands entering and disrupting the Irish market, offering Irish car buyers even more choice.

“Over the next 12 months the MMAI members will continue to do what they do really well, which is to provide unique, accurate and exclusive opinion-led content to their readers, viewers and listeners.

“I am only a tiny part of that group, but as Chairman I will strive to ensure that the MMAI continues with its forward momentum. With this in mind, I am thrilled that Mark Noble (Nobby On Cars) has agreed to be my Vice Chair to help me along the journey.”

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives