Organisers insist it's all systems go for Kells Road Races

The secretary of the Kells Motor Cycling Road Club (MCRC), Aileen Ferguson, has said that "it's all systems go" for the Adelaide International Kells Road Races festival which is due to get underway next month. Ms Ferguson said rumours that this year's races at Crossakiel would be abandoned because of a €10,000 policing bill are "totally untrue" and that the event would be going ahead as planned with adequate Garda cover. New Government regulations stipulate that organisers of festivals, sports and other activities that require an additional Garda presence will have to pay towards policing the event and this has led to the organisers of the Kells races being issued with a bill for €10,000. "I've received a lot of calls and emails from people who had seen the story on the Meath Chronicle website, from people in the UK especially wanting to know what the situation is. I even got a call from a man in the UK whose friend was in Italy and planning on going to the road races. He was wondering if he should book his flight or not. The Kells Road Races are most definitely going ahead," she said. Ms Ferguson added: "An agreement has been reached between Kells MCRC and the Gardai to the satisfaction of both parties. All are agreed adequate Gardai cover will be available." The new regulations have angered local public representatives who say the motorcycle races are a major tourism boost for the area, attracting over 50,000 visitors to the area. Cllr Conor Fergusion had described the new regulations as "a disaster" for the organisers. The festival kicks off on Thursday 15th July with soccer and rugby matches between teams from Kells and Armoy in Co Antrim and from Kells in Meath followed by a vintage car and bike display by the Dunboyne Motor Club. The evening will finish with mini moto-racing in Kells town centre at 7.30pm. On the Friday, there will be a charity classic parade in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association with registration at the Railway Bar, Kells, at 6.30pm. The Kells Bike Fest will take place on Saturday 17th July. This promises to be a superb family day out with stunt riding, bouncy castles, face-painting, slow bike manoeuvres, a trike display and more at the Fair Green in Kells. Also on Saturday 17th July, a hurling match will take pace between teams from Kells in Antrim and Kells in Meath. The same day, there will be race practice at Crossakiel for all motorcycling classes, starting at 1pm. The first race on the Sunday at Crossakiel gets underway at 11.15am, followed by the full programme of events.