Brennan And Paisley Flag-Off Rally Ireland

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Séamus Brennan T.D., joined the North's First Minister, Dr. Ian Paisley, on Thursay in officially flagging off the first cars in the Rally Ireland stage of the World Rally Championship, at Stormont Castle, Belfast.

The rally is the largest sporting event to be held in Ireland this year.

Also participating in the official start of the event were Edwin Poots, the North's Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and Conor Lenihan, Minister of State for Integration Policy.

Rally Ireland 2007 is the first ever round of the World Rally Championship to be held in Ireland.

Between Thursday and Sunday, when the Rally ended in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo it was estimated that it was seen by some 150,000 spectators and a global TV audience of up to 50 million people in some 180 countries.

At the ceremonial flagging-off, Minister Brennan said: "The staging of this world class sporting event in Ireland offers a unique opportunity to showcase the whole island to audiences worldwide and to yet again display this country's ability to stage major world sporting events.

"Last year we had the hugely successful staging of the Ryder Cup and this year the beauty of the country will again unfold for thousands of spectators and millions of television views as our spectacular rallying terrain challenges the world's greatest rally drivers.

"We now have a new dispensation on this island and with it a golden opportunity to promote Ireland worldwide as a unique holiday destination and experience.

"Rally Ireland is a perfect example of what can be achieved through the co-operation on all on the island.

"Here in the North, Rally Ireland is supported by Sport Northern Ireland, and in the South, by Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Tourism Development Authority. "More than 800 million people in 180 countries view the full Championship every year and this year we have been given a unique opportunity to showcase our island to this vast audience.

Minister Brennan said that securing the Championship stage would be of major economic benefit to the Northwest region of the island: "Rallying is a truly world-wide branch of motor sport, attracting enormous interest wherever events are held.

"Ireland has a long and proud tradition in the sport, producing over the years international champions like Paddy Hopkirk, Rosemary Smith and Billy Coleman. Having the World Rally Championships here will no doubt inspire many more to compete in the sport over the coming years."

The Minister said the safety of competitors and spectators was at the forefront of planning by the Rally Ireland organisers, and he thanked Motorsport Ireland and the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs for having put in place professional training for over 2,000 volunteers who will work as Marshals and Stewards on the event.

Minister Brennan also welcomed the fact that RTÉ Sport was broadcasting extensive coverage of the World Rally Championship. Because it was taking place in Ireland for the first time, RTÉ Sport brought fans comprehensive coverage of all the action across television, radio and RTÉ.ie.

Beginning on Thursday RTÉ Television broadcasted six programmes featuring live coverage and highlights of Rally Ireland over four days from three different locations.

RTÉ Sport presenters Michael Lyster, Peter Collins and John Kenny were joined by special guests including Irish rally legend Billy Coleman and newly crowned FIA Junior 'Rookie' World Rally Champion 2007, Donegal's Shaun Gallagher.

As host broadcaster of the event RTÉ Television's coverage also featured as part of the World Rally Championship's global programming on close to 150 different television channels throughout the world. The WRC attracts an average global audience of over 50 million viewers per rally.