13/06/2008

Maximise WRC Rally Boost For West: MacSharry

Picture: (Sardinia Rally), by Adam McCalden





A west of Ireland politician has called for some forward thinking ahead of the rerun of a major international sporting event to the area next year.

Sligo Senator Marc MacSharry said he thinks the area needs to think of how the North West can capitalise from the great exposure, which Rally Ireland 2009 is likely to create for the region.

He recalled that Sligo played host to Rally Ireland in November 2007 and this proved to be of huge economic benefit for the entire North West region.

He said that while recent research has shown that the majority of spectators spent just one night in the area during the 2007 event - this could be built upon.

With almost seven months to go until Rally Ireland comes to Sligo again, Senator MacSharry said it's time everyone puts their heads together and come up with a strategy as to how we can use this event to further boost tourist numbers to the region.

Rally Ireland announced the scope of their World Rally Championship (WRC) event, which takes place at the end of January 2009 earlier this month.

Following their success in November 2007, the event has been given the privilege to launch the WRC season, replacing the famous Monte Carlo rally.

While next year's event will again visit a total of eight counties, including Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Roscommon, Cavan and Antrim, organisers have sought to bring the rally to locations that the event has not visited before.

The Rally Ireland organising committee, who have been working since the start of the year, will present the finalised route to the world sport governing body, the FIA, for approval at the end this month.

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 January 2009
Cross Border Rally Revs Up For Action
Cross Border Rally Revs Up For Action One of the most prestigious rally events in the world accelerates into the border counties this evening.
19 May 2008
Rally Ireland Will Kick Off 2009 Series
The roar of high performance rally cars is to return to Ireland early next year. As Rally Sardinia finished on Sunday - with another victory for Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, marking his 40th World Rally Championship win - news that Rally Ireland will launch 2009's 12-round series has emerged.
25 May 2010
Rally Worth €30M To North West
The Topaz Donegal International Rally is expected to bring €30 million to the North West economy, according to its sponsors. The international event is expected to attract 70,000 spectators this year, 20,000 more than usual owing to the new town stage around Buncrana on the opening day.
19 June 2013
Eddie Shaw Resigns Over Anti-Abortion Leaflets Given To Schoolchildren
Eddie Shaw, the man at the centre of the controversy surrounding pro-life leaflets given out to primary school children, has resigned. The leaflets were promoting the anti-abortion legislation rally, Vigil for Life, being held in Dublin on 08 June.
21 June 2010
Irish Rally Star Dies After Cliff Fall
A young rally driver has died after his car plunged off a cliff at the weekend, during a section of the Donegal International Rally.