The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
ENNIS and its immediate environs is set to benefit to the tune of €3 million this weekend as the Clare Motor Club hosts the annual Clare Stages Rally.
The event is the penultimate round in the Dunlop National Championship and it’s also Round 5 in the West Coast Championship.
One hundred and fifty cars will take part. “We have teams from England as well as from various parts of Ireland and it’s a crucial round in the race for the national title,” according to clerk of the course, Dermot Kelleher.
“We are delighted that the rally will bring so much business to the town this weekend. Apart from the competitors and their back-up crews, there will be a big following as the race for the various titles intensifies,” the Clare committee official added.
“Anything that brings business into the town is very welcome,” commented Ennis Chamber CEO, Rita McInerney. “It’s a welcome boost to the businesses in the area. Coming into the winter, we need all the events we can get,” she added.
Ms McInerney said the staging of the rally shows the town is capable of hosting a variety of events. “It’s not all about arts and festivals. We have events to suit all tastes and we welcome them to the town,” she said.
The participants will start arriving in Ennis on Friday night and will be allowed drive the routes at normal speed and make pace notes on Saturday.
A number of roads will be closed on Sunday for the competition and Mr Kelleher paid tribute to the garda authorities and Clare County Council for their assistance.
The ceremonial start will take place at O’Connell Square at 7.45pm on Saturday evening when the top 20 as well as the Clare competitors will be interviewed by the voice of Irish motorsport, Duggie Hughes.
