With International Rally of the Lakes set to return to Killarney this weekend for the first time in three years, the town will be exceptionally busy.

Event organisers say that the 41st edition will attract tens of thousands of spectators for what is sure to be a festival-like atmosphere over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

“Preparations for the rally are now at the advanced stage and we cannot wait to welcome crews and spectators to the town next weekend,” Darren McCormick, Clerk of the Course, said. “We are mindful of the residents of the town so we ask everyone who comes to Killarney to leave the town the way you found it, bring your litter home and ‘Keep the Race in its Place’.’’

The rally kicks off on Friday evening, with a ceremonial start ramp on Main Street. The first car is due over the ramp at 7pm but the street will be closed to ordinary traffic from around 6pm.

The rally proper starts Saturday in the late morning, with runs over stages near Kilsarcon, Banard and Gortnagane, before a service halt at the Liebherr Container Cranes factory in Fossa.

Drivers will tackle those three stages in the afternoon. Heavy traffic can be expected in Kilcummin, Scartaglin, Gneeveguilla, Rathmore and Barraduff areas on Saturday. The bypass and the Fossa area will be very busy too.

After an overnight halt in Killarney, competitors will have the daunting task of Molls Gap and Ballaghbeama to negotiate in the morning, each stage being run twice. The afternoon will see the crews fight for the rally win on Shanera and Caragh Lake, where overall and class winners will be crowned Killarney’s champions.

Traffic on Sunday will be busy in the Muckross, Glencar, Beaufort and the Killorglin areas.

The Muckross Road will remain busy on Sunday afternoon as crews make their way to Rally HQ, The Gleneagle Hotel for a champagne celebration on the finish ramp before a trophy presentation later on that evening at the same venue.

The rally has a range of title sponsors for the 2022 event and without their generous support, there would be no rally. Rentokil Initial, Aherns.ie Motorgroup, The Gleneagle Hotel and OSI have all joined forces to ensure the rally remains viable in what is a difficult return to action for both rallying and the businesses themselves following the pandemic.

Last week, President of the Killarney Chamber of Commerce, Niall Kelleher, welcomed the return of the rally, stating that the rally is worth upwards of €10 million to the local economy. He said the rally is “right up there” with other major events for the town. Local businesses can expect a major windfall from the event and hotel rooms are at a premium for the “must attend” event said Mr Kelleher.