All ship shape and ready as Galway prepares to celebrate

Galway gears up as the Volvo Ocean Race Arrives in Ireland Today

Galway today welcomes some of the world’s most intrepid sailors, thousands of visitors and a global audience of millions as the participating sailing teams of the Volvo Ocean Race arrive in Galway on the seventh leg of their voyage (from Boston) in a race that commenced in Alicante, Spain last October 2008.

As the only stopover during the race in Ireland or the UK, the potential economic impact will be significant for Galway. An impact study carried out by Deloitte in April last year predicted that there would be over €35m direct return on the initial investment. In fact, almost €44m, in both direct and indirect economic impact, is predicted overall as a result of the Galway stopover.
 
As the first European port after the long and arduous voyage across the Atlantic, Galway will provide a festive and uniquely Irish welcome to the race participants and all those who visit the city over the next two weeks.
 
The boats, on arrival, will be greeted by a traditional Irish welcome of bonfires on the coastline, a drumming and pyrotechnic fanfare as they cross the finish line at Mutton Island, and a hearty feed of Irish produced food as they complete the seventh stage of the race.
 
Beyond the feel-good factor, Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland, also stressed the significant tourism and commercial benefits that the event will bring.  He emphasised –
 
“The Volvo Ocean Race will attract the biggest audience for Irish tourism since the Ryder Cup in 2006. The stopover is just the latest in a series of major world sporting events that we have attracted to Ireland under our International Sports Tourism Initiative and, indeed, when it comes to attracting such big name events, Ireland very much punches above its weight internationally.  
 
“With a predicted 140,000 visitors to Galway and a further total global audience of millions watching, the event will create an opportunity for extensive media coverage and provide a fantastic shop window to showcase Ireland as a versatile and high quality holiday destination.
 
“A successful festival over the next two weeks will further increase Ireland’s chances for hosting future world class sporting events.”
 
There is a busy schedule of activities and entertainment available during the two week festival that accompanies the Volvo stopover, many of which are free of charge.  Attractions will include street theatre performances, model boat racing, an air display, and free concerts by the Hothouse Flowers, Sharon Shannon, Aslan, The Stunning, Kila, The Coronas and Lucia Evans amongst others. Full festival details are available at www.galwayvolvooceanrace.com .
 
To enhance the experience of visitors to the festival, Failte Ireland - with the support of Guinness - have also put in place an extensive free programme of the best in traditional, folk and popular music in 40 venues and street locations across the city.
 
The Fáilte Ireland Streets-of-Galway Music Trail, supported by Guinness, will provide an extensive and eclectic programme of free music in 33 pubs and venues and seven street locations stretching from Sea Road in the west end of the city to Eyre Square. It will be accompanied by an additional programme of concerts featuring top Irish and international acts.
 
Fáilte Ireland and the local tourism industry in Galway have been preparing for months for the arrival of this world class event and many local initiatives have recently come to fruition.
 
In the build up to the race, Fáilte Ireland has invested in the Galway Docklands Re-development project. €1 million has been injected into the development of marinas and visitor moorings in the Galway area and these will remain after the event.
 
As well as improved infrastructure, a high level of service is also very much the order of the day during the Volvo Ocean Race Festival and almost 60 local businesses in Galway have signed up to a charter guaranteeing high quality standards and transparent pricing during the two week festival.
 
President Mary McAleese, will perform the official farewell as the boats depart Ireland on Saturday 6 June to head to the next stopover in Sweden.
 
ENDS

For further information please contact:
Louise Tolerton
PR Officer
Tel: 086 6086578/01 8847135
 
 

Notes for Editors

Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
 
The tourism and hospitality industry employs over 250,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year. 

International Sports Tourism Initiative

Fáilte Ireland administers the International Sports Tourism Initiative, which was introduced in January 2000 to build Ireland’s international reputation as a quality sports destination and, consequently, to increase sports tourism, a growing element in international tourism and travel.
 
Support is given in the form of sponsorship towards events that meet the criteria of the Initiative and deliver substantial tourism and commercial benefits to Ireland and the Volvo Stopover is one such event.
 
Key events supported through the Initiative previously include the Ryder Cup, Rally Ireland, the Tour of Ireland and the Solheim Cup.
 

Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier yacht race for professional racing crews, began on October 11 2008 when the sailing group set out from the port of Alicante in Spain.
 
On 24 May 2009 they will arrive in Galway after travelling some 37,000 nautical miles and calling in ports in Cape Town, Kochi, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro and Boston.
 
Galway will be the first European stopover after the long haul destinations and will be a key European destination in terms of tourism development. In fact Galway is the only stopover in Ireland or the UK.   
 

Benefit to Ireland

A potential economic impact study carried out by Deloitte in April 2007 found the following: 

•    Predicted €35.4m direct return on investment
•    A further predicted total of €8.3m return on investment in indirect expenditure
•    Predicted 140,000 visitors to Galway over the two weeks
•    Predicted global audience of 1.8 billion

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