THERE is unequivocal agreement that the forthcoming Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally (March 13th-15th) is more than just a high calibre sporting event.

Speakers at the launch of the event in the Clonakilty Park Cinema on Sunday were loud in their praise for the event as the organising Cork Motor Club celebrates 50 years as a sporting organisation.

The countdown has begun for the rally with its well-known description as the event ‘that kick-starts the tourism season in West Cork.’

A sizeable attendance at the Park Cinema were told of the format of the rally, how the organisers, the local West Cork Rally Committee and the various stakeholders all work in unison to ensure everything goes according to plan and as Sgt Donal Daly told all present ‘that everybody gets back home safely is the most important element within the event.’

For the first time in over a decade, the rally will feature a town stage that actually gets the event underway on the Friday night, with the start just off Pearse Street as the opening stage travels up Barrack Hill and out into the country.

David Henry, general manager of the Clonakilty Park Hotel, said, ‘It is much more than a rally, it's bringing friends back and it's also respecting and appreciating each other and not taking things for granted. It's a good story to tell and there are many towns all around the country that would like to have what we have here in Clonakilty on St Patrick's weekend.’

Although the hotel has been the title sponsor for the past 21 years, it's not a decision that is taken on a whim, as Henry explained.

‘It has to make financial sense and I (as general manager) am lucky to have Michael McCarthy and Eugene Scally who allow me to continue to support the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally,’ he said.

‘It gets the brand name out into the public arena. It is also a good partnership to be associated with the rally.’

Evaluating the event in terms of its worth to the region, Henry added that the rally generates around €5 million over the financial year.

Heading up the organising team, clerk of the course Steve Davis remarked, ‘We are allowed to have 160 crews. If we received anything near 150, we would be happy with that.

‘The West Cork Rally has its own clientele, it's competitor-friendly even in terms of recce (reconnaissance) and everything is very compact.

‘With the first stage starting in the town on the Friday night it will add a different element this year – it will bring excitement into the town. That is important, as organisers, we need to give something back to the town. The businesses are hugely supportive of the rally.

‘We want to get the buzz in the town and get people into the town early. As usual, we have great support from the Gardaí, Cork County Council and all the residents along the route.’

Organising the rally is a huge logistical issue as Greg McCarthy, chairman of the organising Cork Motor Club, outlined.

‘With marshals and officials and other various personnel we are probably talking about close on 500 people across the board over the three days,’ he said.

‘Aside from the sporting context, it kick-starts the tourist season in West Cork. This year is the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Cork Motor Club, we've been coming to Clonakilty and the wider West Cork region a long time now (since 1977) and we have a great partnership with the local committee and everybody in Clonakilty and that is hugely important.'

Cllr Daniel Sexton, representing the Mayor of the County of Cork, commented on the unique atmosphere and welcome that pertains in Clonakilty and it's one of the primary reasons for its success, Conan O'Donovan, Mayor of Clonakilty, spoke about the great tradition that the rally has within the town.

Ed Twomey, from the Clonakilty West Cork Rally Committee, highlighted the ethos of what is good for Clonakilty is good for the businesses in Clonakilty. He paid tribute to the residents and the visitors that receive a special welcome when they come to Clonakilty.

Aside from the pair of stages on the Friday night, there are eight stages (Ring, Kilbrittain, Dunworley and Clogagh, all twice) on Saturday and six (Ballinacarriga, Sam's Cross and Ardfield, all twice) on Sunday. Next week, we will look at the role of An Garda Siochana policing the event.