rally ireland comes to donegal

Mint Sauce

it has been anounced that donegal is to host the final two stages of rally ireland, the first round of the WRC in 2009,

stage 18 is a reverse run of the donegal bay stage from the 2007 rally ireland, a 14.52 km stage that runs south of donegal town, with stage 19, a live televised 1.5km street stage in donegal town

rally news

2009 rally ireland guide (pdf file)

not sure to watch the donegal town stage on TV or go to the stage its self, was at the televised stage in mulagmore last year, and i think due to driver standings in the rally, the short lenght of the stage (similar distance the the donegal stage this time around) and that it was the final stage, some of the drivers weren't going as flat out as they were on the previous stages, and i left sightly disapointed

although considering this is a street stage, i would hope it would be more exciting, compared to last years final stage, considering the technical nature of it, ie, streets, compared to rural/country roads

either way, great way of promoting the town, bringing in extra revenue, and tourism

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Sounds good think I will pay a visit to that myself:D

muffler

Welcomed news indeed.

Senna

for the best view its better to watch these things on tv, but for the enjoyment and atmosphere, being there on the side of the road is hard to beat.
I'll be there anyway.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Your right the view would be better on tv but as I am a photographer I gotta be there:p

byte

Great news. It should be good for the town, I think. Good for me too, won't have far to wander!

ednwireland

woooo hoooo great stuff see you there byte (mind you the 2miles from town to my house will probably be parked solid

irish1967

I see there is a meeting tonight at 8.30 in the Abbey Hotel to discuss the Donegal Stage.. might take a wee strole downtown to that.

byte

ednwireland wrote: »

woooo hoooo great stuff see you there byte (mind you the 2miles from town to my house will probably be parked solid

Ah, another Donegal town man! I'll have less far to go, as I'm in Ardeskin. Handy stroll!

Didn't realise there was a meeting tonight Bit late noticing now! I suppose tonights meeting will be too late to see anything about it in tomorrow's Demo, as I'd guess it's already gone to print.

muffler

byte wrote: »

I suppose tonights meeting will be too late to see anything about it in tomorrow's Demo, as I'd guess it's already gone to print.

Dont think the democrat is that good seeing as they went to print last night and out on the shelves this morning

ednwireland

according to kennedy this is the stage

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103983469621850531357.0004568a1ea053ef22454&z=17

Mint Sauce

ednwireland wrote: »

according to kennedy this is the stage

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103983469621850531357.0004568a1ea053ef22454&z=17

mmm, thought they were going nearer mcintyres garage my self, nearer the kilybegs side of the bypass, altough looks quite a good route if thats the one, although finish is very close to the start, going to be interested to see how/where cars starting/finishing are going to be seperated

irish1967

byte wrote: »

Ah, another Donegal town man! I'll have less far to go, as I'm in Ardeskin. Handy stroll!

Didn't realise there was a meeting tonight Bit late noticing now! I suppose tonights meeting will be too late to see anything about it in tomorrow's Demo, as I'd guess it's already gone to print.

Waves over from Drumrooske:)

byte

/me waves back!

I'm looking forward to the town rally! Probably the biggest event in the blank town calendar!

smashey

byte wrote: »

/me waves back!

Ignore him, he's a blow-in from Lifford.

Mint Sauce

byte wrote: »

/me waves back!

I'm looking forward to the town rally! Probably the biggest event in the blank town calendar!

kinda looking forward my self, although would have to be in it a couple of hours before it starts, and will probably take a few hours to get out of it again, could be better veiwed on da oul telly

irish1967

Said like a true Strabane man there Smashey !:D

Just looking at that route though.. I was in Mullaghmore last year.. will Donegal town be able to hold the 50,000+ that visited that day. I presume Rally Ireland and the boys in blue have learned from the mistakes highlighted that day.

(wonders... is that a grandstand being built in the back car park?..hmmmm)

ednwireland

irish1967 wrote: »

(wonders... is that a grandstand being built in the back car park?..hmmmm)

reckon you might be onto something there you shouldnt be giving kelly ideas like that though, nind could turn from tarmac to mud stage if it washes into the car park again

Mint Sauce

irish1967 wrote: »

Said like a true Strabane man there Smashey !:D

Just looking at that route though.. I was in Mullaghmore last year.. will Donegal town be able to hold the 50,000+ that visited that day. I presume Rally Ireland and the boys in blue have learned from the mistakes highlighted that day.

(wonders... is that a grandstand being built in the back car park?..hmmmm)

where are you referring to in the car park

coould think of a few vantage points for the rally, the bank over looking pauls car park, or the raised parking section,

the land infront of the libarary, see the cars coming over the bridge, past the funiture store, and taking the sharp right down towards new row along the river,

or on the oposite road along the river, watching the cars go towards magees factory

or from the many house/flat windows over looking

thing about a town stage, there is not tomany feilds to stand in, being streets, you are not really going to get close, not to many barriers or safe points to stand behind, donegal town is being billed as a TV stage, could be more of an advertising tool

cant remember if the presentation was in mullagmore last year or at the clarion in sligo, picturering the diamond as a good location of a winners ramp

muffler

Bit more info on the rally here

summerdreamn

silly question, to anyone who might know, as the rally is passing by several businesses, will they have to close for the duration of the rally? i'd imagine that it will be a huge effort to get around, on foot or otherwise! can't wait for this, it must be the biggest thing in the town since i moved here.

byte

No pedestrians allowed on any footpaths adjoining any street that the rally stage drives on. So I'd say there'd be little point being open during the rally (from what I was told from someone who seemed well clued up and was at the meeting in the Abbey). Streets get closed off at 10.30 I believe.

LoanShark

I can't wait for the rally to come to town!!
I heard that a limited number of people with wrist bands will be allowed to onto the diamond and that there will be a few big screens at various points around the town..As for a great viewing point, I reckon,standing on the Iron bridge might be good or up at the old tech..

ednwireland

LoanShark wrote: »

I can't wait for the rally to come to town!!
I heard that a limited number of people with wrist bands will be allowed to onto the diamond and that there will be a few big screens at various points around the town..As for a great viewing point, I reckon,standing on the Iron bridge might be good or up at the old tech..

that'd be the one closed to heavy vehicles then because it was moving every time a lorry went over it lets see how many people it'll take. my office overlooks the diamond so maybe we'll get wristbands

byte

Ah, that bridge! I was, for some reason, thinking of the bridge near the Reel Inn with the steel railings :rolleyes:

Ach, Im' sure it'll cope with a handful of people standing on it :pac: (aside: if it's as bad as they say, and it looks it, why can't they replace it, as Water St can now be a nightmare?).

I have a relatively good vantage point from my workplace too, though I'd probably have to sit on the roof or something!

Senna

bumping this thread.
Has anyone more info on tickets for the Donegal town street stage, i see tickets are available on ticketmaster, but is there different tickets of this stage or is it just free to the general public?
Will there be viewing stands?

Macroom Man

It is the right county for the Rally. The locals drive like maniacs, with no respect for others, especially North from Ballybofey.

Mint Sauce

whats that got to do with anything, its not the locals that are competing, plus, all the stages are south of ballybofey

:rolleyes:

Macroom Man

irish-stew wrote: »

whats that got to do with anything, its not the locals that are competing, plus, all the stages are south of ballybofey

:rolleyes:

The rally could run on the public roads and it would be hard to distinguish the locals from the ralliers. That is my point. :cool:

muffler

Macroom Man - 2 weeks off for trolling.

Essexboy

Macroom Man wrote: »

The rally could run on the public roads and it would be hard to distinguish the locals from the ralliers. That is my point. :cool:

Seems a bit harsh to me but it is true the county has a problem.
"Gardaí, in co-operation with the National Roads Authority, have identified almost 2,000 zones as collision prone and these will be targeted.

Co Donegal has the single largest number of zones, with 118 separate areas of roads identified as vulnerable to speeding, compared with 46 zones in Dublin."
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1231/1230581505007.html

muffler

Essexboy you seen that Macroom Man got banned for those comments so why continue where he left off?

This thread is about the rally in Donegal and nothing else so please stay on topic.

Senna

Been searching for info and it seems like there wont be stands in Donegal town, so i assume no tickets available for better viewing.
I suppose there would be too much disruption to the town, but its a pity seen the super special in belfast last year had stands for a few thousand and its not going ahead this year, the donegal stage might have had more for spectators.

Still should be a great stage and well worth going to.

LoanShark

I heard that tickets for the diamond will be available from tis weekend onwards..

muffler

Road closure details for rally here if anyone is interested

ednwireland

diamond tickets are 30€ and 25€ for a grandstand seat tickets on sale in unit 2 quay st 17th jan 10am
free viewing areas are on castle st, tirconaill st, upper main st corner, on the river on the new waterfront and in the main carpark loads more info in yesterdays donegal times

irish1967

well as time draws close for this event.. the details are beginning to raise a few eyebrows with the locals who have just realised what the Donegal Town stage will mean to the town.

I work in one of the businesses which should be in for a bumper day.. maybe 2 months business in one day.. one problem... we cant open and the footpath leading to and from us is closed... if we do manage to get any customers in they wont be able to move until all is over. I know.. i know.. it will be watched by millions over the world and is a great advertisement for the town but a route that didnt mean most businesses will have to remain closed for the duration might have been a better idea.

I was in Mullagmore last year and yes I know its totally different geographically but all the business were able to stay open because of the route and I am positive it was a very profitable day for all those business... the Diamond should have been set aside as the social center for the day.. there are plenty of roads that could have been used that would have left the core of the town able to take advantage (and not in a bad way) of the thousands of people flooding into the town on 1st Feb.

Senna

Maybe the tourism that it will bring to the town for the rest of the year will be worth it for the inconvenience for one day. I imagine the diamond will look impressive on the coverage and I think the benefits will far out weigh the negatives.

ednwireland, any chance you know if there are still tickets for sale?

BoardsRanger

Hey there, myself and a few friends are going up to the rally and are considering staying in donegal town. Now i realise the town itself has a small population but can anyone shed any light on nightlife in the town? Pubs/ nightclubs? thanks in advance

Mint Sauce

loads of pubs, nearly every few buildings is one, would safely say the abbey hotel bar and sky club (also in the hotel) will be jamed that night, although none of them will be opened during the day on the sunday,

BoardsRanger

Sounds good, thanks for that. Hopefully it will be a good laugh.

phastasphuck

Still should be a great stage and well worth going to.

should be, but will be a nightmare to get into!!...

Mint Sauce

phastasphuck wrote: »

should be, but will be a nightmare to get into!!...

and out of, took 2hrs to get from mulagmore back to sligo last time round, am sure it will be a great stage, but will quite happly watch it on TV this time around

phastasphuck

irish-stew wrote: »

and out of, took 2hrs to get from mulagmore back to sligo last time round, am sure it will be a great stage, but will quite happly watch it on TV this time around

i didnt bother goin to sligo last time round...by the end of the 3 days i was clean wrecked!!....alot of drivin was done!!

byte

Im told the Coach House will be open all day, as it's just outside the closed-off area. I'd assume that Schooners will also be open for same reasons and Duffy's chipper.

LoanShark

irish1967 wrote: »

well as time draws close for this event.. the details are beginning to raise a few eyebrows with the locals who have just realised what the Donegal Town stage will mean to the town.

I work in one of the businesses which should be in for a bumper day.. maybe 2 months business in one day.. one problem... we cant open and the footpath leading to and from us is closed... if we do manage to get any customers in they wont be able to move until all is over. I know.. i know.. it will be watched by millions over the world and is a great advertisement for the town but a route that didnt mean most businesses will have to remain closed for the duration might have been a better idea.

I was in Mullagmore last year and yes I know its totally different geographically but all the business were able to stay open because of the route and I am positive it was a very profitable day for all those business... the Diamond should have been set aside as the social center for the day.. there are plenty of roads that could have been used that would have left the core of the town able to take advantage (and not in a bad way) of the thousands of people flooding into the town on 1st Feb.

Typical Donegal Town Mentality...Woe is me I have to close for one day!! The town will be blocked off,Mass has to be moved to another time the fact the on a sunday in janurary more people will enter our town than ever and we have got the biggest chance to promote our area to a MASSIVE audience than ever before,Still does NOTHING to stimulate the people..
What business people FAIL to notice is that from Wednesday we will be having people coming into our town and that they will possibly still be hanging around on Monday.. SO, if your business is in the Food Industry Then why dont you stay open for a coupple of extra hours each night on the build up to this occassion...
I've always said, why anyone would be bothered to do anything for Donegal Town is beyond me...
Is is Sickening that OUR Town has Failed to get hyped up for this great event and that all people want to do is knock it..
I personally cant wait for it to come it is gonna be great.!

byte

Surely the shops can open after the stage is completed?

sorella

Please, will there be any closures etc on the Saturday, ie the day before the rally?

Could be a very good trading day indeed?

LoanShark wrote: »

Typical Donegal Town Mentality...Woe is me I have to close for one day!! The town will be blocked off,Mass has to be moved to another time the fact the on a sunday in janurary more people will enter our town than ever and we have got the biggest chance to promote our area to a MASSIVE audience than ever before,Still does NOTHING to stimulate the people..
What business people FAIL to notice is that from Wednesday we will be having people coming into our town and that they will possibly still be hanging around on Monday.. SO, if your business is in the Food Industry Then why dont you stay open for a coupple of extra hours each night on the build up to this occassion...
I've always said, why anyone would be bothered to do anything for Donegal Town is beyond me...
Is is Sickening that OUR Town has Failed to get hyped up for this great event and that all people want to do is knock it..
I personally cant wait for it to come it is gonna be great.!

paratrend

Hi, we are taking our motorhome to the west of ireland to see the rally and would like to meet up with fellow campers, we are travelling from Monasterboice Co Louth on friday 29th to Bundoran, so if your thinking of taking your camper out of retirement and on the road before the great irish summer then reply here and we may be able to do a "Circle of Campers" on friday/ saturday nite.... regards Paratrend n friends....

byte

Does anyone know if there will be platforms or something on the Diamond? Or is it a case of if you're stuck in the centre of the Diamond and can't see out, it's just tough? Just curious what you get for your €30 admission to the Diamond.

Mint Sauce

still curious on these charges for the donegal town stage, been looking at the rally ireland site, and stuff about tickets for the start at eniskillian, tickets for the service park, but nothing about tickets for donegal town, as far as i was aware, like all the other stages, there is no cover charge for donegal town, just get there early for the best vantage points