Fermoy urged to step up a gear and make most of car rally opportunity
Fermoy Enterprise Board is coming on board as an associate sponsor of the Acesigns Cork “20” International Rally.
It’s envisaged the town’s association with the event will demonstrate the positivity in Fermoy, with the enterprise board hoping many of the 100 local organisations and sports clubs will throw their weight behind the venture.
Michael Hanley, chairperson of the Fermoy enterprise body, said with a new flood prevention system in place, there has been a positive attitude to reinvigorating the town.
He said the hosting of certain aspects of the rally will be central to that objective.
“The reality is we paid a fierce price with the combination of the depth of the recession we have experienced — as has everywhere else — but we were in a singular position,” he said.
“We had very severe intervention in the business life of our community because of the necessity to complete the flood plan.”
He said it is up to the town to exploit the opportunity the rally presents. “It’s not up to me or the Enterprise Board, it is up to the whole community: we have been invited to be a partner and let’s see what we can do.”
With the support of other local bodies, he said the aim was to provide a week-long series of events in the lead up to the rally on October 3-4.
“We will explain to the clubs the background of what is about to happen and give them the opportunity and the expectancy that we have in business to get involved and start doing things related to their own club,” said Mr Hanley.
The event will receive television coverage on both terrestrial and satellite stations in the form of a one-hour programme and it will allow opportunities, he said, to profile the Fermoy region in the best light.
Mr Hanley concluded: “We have been invited to be a partner, I want to make sure we do the smart thing on it, I’m tired at looking at rubbish productions.”
The rally is the final round of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and, according to the clerk of the course Colman Hegarty, it will attract competitors from all over Ireland and Britain.
“It’s a new venture and an exciting prospect for us in the Munster Car Club,” he said, indicating the rally organisation was impressed by the local enthusiasm.
“We will have the start of the rally in the town square in Fermoy and the service park will be located in the old mart complex.”
