Festival of Speed coming up fast

Dromoland’s Conor O’Brien, an ancestor of Brian Boru and an avid motor racing enthusiast, is driving the Irish Festival of Speed that is set to generate a €6m spin-off for the region.

The two-day event will be staged on a purpose-built track at Limerick racecourse at Greenmount Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4, and will represent the biggest investment in Irish motor sport in over 40 years.
Co-founder of The Irish Festival of Speed, Conor O’Brien’s love of cars goes back to his childhood but he only got to realise motor racing dream in 2003 when he was 60.

The event, which attracted 16,000 spectators to its inaugural staging in 2011, is expected to double that figure. The festival is the first of its kind in Ireland and follows in the footsteps of the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK that has grown its following to 150,000 every year since its inception in 1993, and the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power.

The Irish Festival of Speed had an economic benefit of over €3million to the Limerick and mid-west region in 2011 and it is expected to double that this year.
The event will feature demonstrations and exhibitions from all things motor sport from 1930’s grand prix cars up to modern day super cars. It will include rally cars, vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and air displays across the weekend. There will be sprint racing across both days on the track, sky-divers, stunt motorbike riding and a supercar paddock including Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche Clubs.

The weekend will also see a part re-enactment of the “Round the Houses” 1930’s Limerick Grand Prix on Saturday evening as the supercars and some of the original cars from the 1930’s Grand Prix drive through the city following an expo of the Supercars at Limerick Potato Market.

Richard O’Donnell, also a co-founder, admitted this year’s festival will be bigger and better than 2011.

“There is literally something here for everyone, from the person with a passing interest up to those who live and breathe cars and motorsport. The whole family is catered for too as we will have a kid’s area and barbecue along with plenty of traders stalls for people to enjoy and wander around.

“This will be a huge event for the region and will attract a significant influx of spend into the Limerick and mid-west area, which is going to be a great boost,” he added.