Boyle gets all revved up with preparations for Boyle World Rally Festival
The committee of Boyle World Rally Festival held their launch event in Lough Key Forest & Activity Park on Thursday 25th September to formally announce Boyle's inclusion in Rally Ireland 2009. The launch was held in conjunction with Rally Ireland and festival partners Roscommon County Council. Present were a large number of the Rally Ireland executive and representatives of Motorsport Ireland, the organisation which will head up the management of Rally Ireland going forward. Frank Egan and Jim McGrath of Boyle World Rally Festival committee welcomed the funders, stakeholders and volunteers present and thanked them for their support to date and emphasised their vital role in working with the committee to deliver a successful event on Friday 30th January. Guests included Frank Feighan TD, Mayor of Roscommon County Council Michael McGreal, Cllrs Cummins, Doherty, Garvey, Hopkins, Keenan, Mayor of Boyle Peter Flannery and executives of Roscommon County Council, Failte Ireland, Office of Public Works, Arigna Leader, Boyle Chamber of Commerce, An Garda Siochana, Emergency Services, Boyle businesses and schools, local venues and tourism providers. Jim McGrath spoke of the success of 2007 and the implications for a bigger and better Boyle World Rally Festival in 2009 in partnership with Roscommon County Council which is a great boost to Boyle's plans for 2009 (see below) and County Roscommon's involvement in Rally Ireland 2009.

Guest speaker at the launch was 4 times back to back Irish Tarmac Champion and Rally Ireland 2007 competitor Eugene Donnelly who "praised the local committee on their initiative and hard work in bringing Rally Ireland to Boyle where it will be beamed all over the world for billions of people to see in 2009 and beyond".

Cllr Michael McGreal, Mayor of Roscommon County Council, said that in recent years Roscommon County Council has been part of a very substantial effort to boost tourism in this area. "The Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, one of the Council's major projects, is a fitting and wonderful setting to launch Boyle World Rally Festival. Your efforts in Boyle have already highlighted the natural beauty of this part of Roscommon and will bring immense benefit to the area for the 2009 event and into the future." He urged the government not to make any budgetary decisions which would adversely impact on the investment needed to further develop tourism and the necessary infrastructure in the North West.

"Boyle World Rally Festival 2007 was bigger and better than anyone thought it could have been. The turn out here this evening shows that everyone wants it to work, including Rally Ireland. We have worked for Boyle's greater inclusion in Rally Ireland 2009 and that will benefit the event as a whole." Gordon Noble, Clerk of the Course, Rally Ireland.

Speaking on behalf of Motorsport Ireland, Joe Corcoran commented that "you can put on the rally but its up to the areas involved to grasp it and make the most of it - Boyle in no small way is a part of what Rally Ireland is all about. Rally Ireland 2007 was a dream come through for a lot of people but it took fans and over 4,000 dedicated volunteers to make it happen." He highlighted the crucial role of the funding agencies North and South of the border which back the event. He praised the role of recently retired promoters Sean O Connor and Ronan Morgan whose departure was a blow to the Rally Ireland team but he said an event like this is bigger than 1 or 2 people and it will move forward with CEO Alex Sinclair of Motorsport Ireland and Event Director John Naylor, President of Motorsport Ireland - the business man of the event who will ensure that the team deliver on budget! Frank Egan Co-Chair of Boyle World Rally Festival committee echoed Joe's words about Sean and Ronan's foresight and determination in getting Ireland into the World Rally Championship and he spoke of the excellent working relationship which has developed between the Boyle committee and Rally Ireland.

Boyle World Rally Festival is organised by a voluntary committee in partnership with Roscommon County Council and with the support of Fáilte Ireland-West Region, Arigna Leader/ Úna Bhán Tourism Co-Operative Society and Boyle Chamber of Commerce. The committee is working closely with Rally Ireland.

Festival Information: 071 966 3033 / www.boylerallyfestival.com / info@boylerallyfestival.com
Accommodation enquiries: Úna Bhán Tourism Co-Operative Society 071 966 3033 www.unabhan.net.

Rally Ireland is a symbol of modern Ireland and the confidence that has put us on the world sporting stage. Boyle has been credited with playing a significant role in the phenomenal success of the inaugural Rally Ireland event in the North West of Ireland in November 2007 when the local community worked closely with the voluntary committee in staging the Boyle World Rally Festival. As early as January 2008, the committee proposed an event to Rally Ireland for the area's enhanced participation in the event which would merge the contemporary and heritage experience which Boyle and Co Roscommon have to offer. This will take the form of a Céad Míle Fáilte to the WRC teams to celebrate Irish hospitality, Irish culture and Irish heritage. From 3pm on Friday 30th January, Rally Ireland 'Passage Control' will come to Boyle involving the stop-off of every car at Boyle Abbey. The grounds of the Abbey will feature characters in heritage costume - some will be offering Irish soup and home-baked scones to the WRC competitors; others will be demonstrating the traditional craft of St Brigid's cross making and presenting one to each WRC competitor in time for St Brigid's Day 1st February. Local schools will be very involved in making the Brigid's crosses throughout the month of January. Traditional Irish music will be played by local musicians at the gate lodge of Boyle Abbey.

Ireland's reputation for hospitality is what truly distinguishes Ireland as a cultural and tourist destination. Boyle will show that Céad Míle Fáilte to the world's rally spectators in 2009 in North Roscommon.

Festival Information: 071 966 3033 / www.boylerallyfestival.com / info@boylerallyfestival.com
Accommodation enquiries: Úna Bhán Tourism Co-Operative Society 071 966 3033 www.unabhan.net.