Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has advised local businesses to prepare for a particularly busy May Bank Holiday weekend with the 41st International Rally of the Lakes ensuring a bumper long weekend in the town.

With a value to the town of in excess of €10 million, the International Rally of the Lakes is right up there in terms of major attractions in Killarney and it creates a hugely exciting sporting spectacle for the long weekend, Chamber President Niall Kelleher said.

He stressed that the town’s tourism industry relies heavily on flagship festivals and gatherings such as the 4th July Festival, Christmas in Killarney, the St Patrick’s Festival and, more recently, the Wander Wild Festival and events like the Rally of the Lakes, the Historic Rally and Bikefest add a wonderful extra dimension and real colour to what the town can offer visitors and locals.

“Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce is fully supportive of the Killarney and District Motor Club and I congratulate Clerk of the Course Darren McCormick and all involved in organising such a finely-tuned and high quality motorsport event, one of the best run of its kind in the country,” Mr Kelleher said.

He noted that Killarney has been synonymous with rallying for decades, which is hardly surprising given the terrific rally terrain it can offer, with the technically demanding stages matched only by the spectacular landscape.

“The Rally of the Lakes is very much a team Killarney effort with Gardaí, Kerry County Council, residents and businesses all playing their part and, in terms of coverage, Killarney and Kerry benefit enormously through TV, media and social media exposure.

“COVID has played spoilsport over the last two years but, on April 30 and May 1 we should forget all about the pandemic and concentrate instead on a feast of top class rallying and fun,” the Chamber President added.