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info@eastcorkjournal.ie


Thursday, 16th


August 2018 Youghal Ironman Committee under Starter’s Orders


Article by CLAIRE O’DONOGHUE


Photos by ANDREA CUNNINGHAM


Ironman organisers


held a public information evening in the Red Store Youghal on Thursday, 9 August to a packed house. It was standing room as John Innes (Project Direc- tor), gave the latest news on the eagerly anticipated event. The Agenda of the meeting touched on key points.


Until the public


information evening, there was an uncertainly on how large an Ironman brand event is, what it will take to run, and the tremendous- ly beneficial effects it will have in the area. John stat- ed that the event is already three-quarters booked with the Irish making up 50% and 40% are from the U.S. The Ironman brand is syn- onymous with excellence in public sporting events. They have a strong follow- ing and there is tremen- dous brand loyalty. Their events are full on festivals of sporting endurance and achievement.


Route: The routes for


each section of the event have been roughly mapped out and, while they are subject to change for var- ious reasons, many of the competitors will come ear- lier in the year to go over


the routes and try them out. Cork County Council is the main sponsor, and once the worst of the win- ter weather is over, there will be a big push by them to


get the roads on the


route up to standard for health and safety as well as all those expensive bikes. Once risk assessments have been undertaken along the routes, there will be a bet- ter understanding of what needs to be done. The cycling section takes in most of East Cork –from Youghal,


Ballymacoda,


Garryvoe, Cloyne, White- gate, East Ferry, Midleton, Dungourney to Morley’s Cross, Mount Uniacke and back to Youghal – and that route will be cycled twice. It includes two amazing climbs up Youghal’s Wind- mill Hill, which will surely be a prime spectator spot to encourage participants up the steep ascent.


Traffic: On the day


of the event (Sunday, 23 June) Youghal will be com- pletely closed to traffic. While plans are in the ear- ly stages Gardaí, Marshals, Stewards and Staff from Cork County Council will be enforcing a strict no traffic policy for competi- tor safety. The time cut offs will aid along the route, as those who are not making the qualified time will im- mediately be pulled out of the competition, and that section of road reopened.


There is a plan to have a park and ride system in place for spectators. Fur- ther details of traffic infor- mation will be imparted at meetings as the weeks and months go by. There will, of course, be contingen- cy plans in place for any emergencies.


Volunteers/Marshals:


Ricky Devereux from iTri- Coaching.com has been charged with overseeing the recruitment


of vol-


unteers as Marshals and Steward for the event and to be at key points along the way, giving participants any aid they may required. “There is bound to be a snag list at the end of year 1, said John, “we’re expect- ing 2,500 competitors and their families and friends to stay for at least 4 days, and it is vital that the red carpet is rolled out and all visitors are given the gold standard Céad Míle


Fáilte which


Youghal and the surround- ing area are capable of.”


Accommodation: A


Facebook page has been opened called IM Cork Local Info where all new information be posted, to- gether with a link where anyone with available accommodation, or who have rooms they are look- ing to rent out, can register their interest.


As time passes there will be more information be-


coming available as plans get


truly underway. The


overall message from the meeting was the need for the whole community to come together


to make


the event as big a success as possible. There may be slight inconveniences for locals, traffic wise, on the day of the competition it- self but, when compared to


the potential revenue


for the town over the three years and beyond with re- peat visitors, it should be all well worthwhile.


Thanks to the efforts of


John and his team at www. iTriCoaching.com, with the help of Deputy May- or Mary Linehan Foley and Minister of State at the Department of Justice David Stanton, Youghal and East Cork have been given a real opportunity to shine on a global stage and to showcase all the history, heritage and hospitality in our beautiful little corner of the world.


• Karen Byrne, Valerie Foley and Aisling Flaherty.


• Helen Heaphy Grainge, Adrian Hyde, Gavin Pollard and Paudi White.


• Joe O Conner(Inspector) Adrian Lomasney( Sergeant and Road Policing Unit) Ricky Devereaux and John Innes (Organisers) Mark Ward( Sergeant)


• Sarah Donoher and Joe Butler. Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie eastcorkjournal


• Mairead and Jimmy Healy. @eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


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