Skip Navigation, Sitemap

Meath Chronicle

Published: Wednesday, 25th November, 2009 4:54pm

Council praise for work of Kells Road Races group

Profile by Ann Casey

Comments (2) | Print | Email

Image related to story 3993067, see caption or article text

Cllr Bryan Reilly.

The amazing work of the Kells Road Races Committee in promoting Kells at home and abroad was commended by members of Kells Town Council last week.

As the council prepares its preliminary budget this week, members will now consider making a grant to the committee to help with the running of the event in 2010.

A deputation from the races committee attended a meeting of Kells Town Council last week, at which they outlined the financial commitment involved in running the annual Kells Road Races.

The committee thanked the council for working with them over the past 17 years and told councillors that up to 30,000 people attended last July's event and even more attended the funday at the Fair Green in Kells, held in conjunction with the races.

More than 300 motorbikes took part in the Kells to Kells Ride-Out which saw riders, including members of the Gardai and the PSNI, riding from Kells in County Antrim to Kells, County Meath.

Organiser Aileen Ferguson told councillors the costs were enormous and they had to upgrade safety for the international event this year. She added they had worked hard the whole year round promoting Kells and looking for sponsorship. She paid tribute to their main sponsor, Adelaide Insurance, without whom they couldn't continue.

Ms Ferguson pointed out that the group is bringing visitors into Kells, filling the bed and breakfasts establishments. There had been a fantastic feedback from lcoal businesses, she added.

Cllr Bryan Reilly said that no other group had done so much for tourism in Kells over the last few years. "The amount of visitors they bring to Kells every year is growing and we should be in partnership with this group," he said.

Cllr Conor Ferguson said the committee must be supported and needed major funding. Cllr Frankie Lynch said the races attracted thousands of people to the town and the council should give whatever funding it could to the organisers.

Cllr Oliver Sweeney congratulated the committee on its success this year and said it was great to see the races growing. Cllr Sean Drew described the committee as professional and said they were pushing an open door for whatever funding the council can give. Cllr Brian Collins said the council should be in partnership with the road races committee and they would have to see how they could establish such a partnership.

Cllr Sharah Reilly said the races created a great buzz and excitement around the town and was great for business.

The council cathaoirleach, Cllr Brian Curran, agreed, saying that if any group deserved recognition in Kells, it was the Kells Road Races Committee.

  • Tony B.
    (Unregistered User)


    Nov 26 09 10:27

    Our Ref: 2053
    Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
    Report this comment

    Am I reading this right? Kells town council has never offered the road races any major funding before, but now in a time where finances have never been so bad and revenue down massively for the council, they want to give the road races money? Very noble, but some council members would do well to look around the town and acknowledge the dirt and decay of the place. The town's streets are littered with rubbish and dog dirt and the paths and roads are in a disgraceful condition. Has anyone driven on th"road" outside the headford hotel recently? It was only 2 months ago the council was pleading poverty and telling us that it estimated a 50,000 euro shortfall in funding for this year,so where are they planning on getting this money from? The people of kells voted these councilors in to try and get them to do something about the day to day issues that effect them, the kells road races, as great as they are, cover just one weekend. Lets get our prioritys right here.

  • sean mcd
    (Unregistered User)


    Jan 5 10 14:33

    Our Ref: 2243
    Please this ref number if you wish to report this comment.
    Report this comment

    just for the record, the council approved a grant of 10,000 euro for this in the latest budget plan. Disgraceful!

commentsComments

Post a comment

*required

*required




Captcha Image, filename bcweb5789231.jpg

For your convenience, you can now register with our website (which will save you from having to retype your name each time you post a comment). If you would like to do this (or have already!) then please Log in or Register

  • Hot Jobs

  • Classified

    • Cleaners & Domestic Services
      OIL BOILERS SERVICED also Stanley, Rayburn. Qualified, insured, professional. Approved for grant work. Covering North Meath and East Cavan. Phone 087-6818090
    • Gardening & Sheds
      New varieties organic vegetable seeds, onion sets, red onion sets, shallots, herbs, fruit bushes, fruit trees, mushroom kits. Now ready at Pergola Nurseries, Virginia. Phone 049-...
    • Cleaners & Domestic Services
      Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning. Carpets dry immediately, no wet. Upholstery cleaning. Rug cleaning. Collection and delivery service. Call Michael Murray at Dri Safe 087-2963086 Locall...
    • General Builders & Handymen
      A- J plumbing services. All aspects of plumbing and heating. Keen rates. Phone 085-7125891.
    • Gardening & Sheds
      Free workshop at Pergola Nurseries. Want to grow organic veg. and fruits, join our free workshop every Saturday at Pergola Nurseries at 11 first workshop starts 13th February. Open...
    • Cleaners & Domestic Services
      Eurowash. Powerwashing specialists. Specialising in roofs, driveways, paving/patios, u PVC All driveways, fungus killers, detergent for cleaning white chipping dash. Tel Patrick...

Photosales Search

Vote

Meath Chronicle Poll

Who do you think will win the Meath SFC championship for 2009?

This Poll is now closed.

Seneschalstown (30.0%)

Navan O'Mahonys (55.0%)

Wolfe Tones (15.0%)

View recent poll results

Aquarius

Horoscopes

Aquarius

Imposing your spiritual or ethical beliefs on others will cause resentment. You need to be respectful, even if you disagree with their way of life. If you try, you can have a good relationship with people... read more

See our horoscopes section to find out what's in your stars.


Inspire

News from around the Midlands