Frank Pentony
A global audience of 250 million viewers will see the Giro d’Italia make its way through the Dundalk Town Centre on May 11, 2014, as it has been confirmed that the town will be a major TV hub for the Irish leg of the internationally renowned cycling race.
There is further cause for celebration with the news that Dundalk will also host the only southern sprint of the Giro.
Dundalk’s major involvement in the Irish leg of the race was confirmed by Giro organisers at a special meeting held in Dublin this week.
Both Pat O’Shaughnessy, Chairman, Cuchulainn CC and Frank Pentony, Town Clerk, Dundalk Town Council attended the meeting at which the official Giro Map was unveiled. The map clearly identifies Dundalk as the TV centre for the Armagh-Dublin stage .
This means that TV cameras will follow the race as it arrives in Dundalk and makes its way through Dundalk Town Centre via Clanbrassil Street and Crowe Street.
Speaking following the meeting Pat O’Shaughnessy said both he and the Town Clerk were over the moon to see Dundalk’s TV status on paper.
“It was fantastic to take a look at the map and see Dundalk marked ‘TV’!
“As far as we know there will be a special tourism segment going out across the world which will feature local attractions such as Cuchulainn’s Castle.
“But thanks to the revamped facilities at the Market Square, including the big screen, the sprint through Dundalk will also be broadcast.
“The TV crews along with Giro enthusiasts and their teams visiting Dundalk should prove a tremendous boost to our hotels and our town centre businesses with the potential for thousands of people to flock to the town.”
Pat added it was a tremendous feeling to hear Dundalk’s participation confirmed at the meeting.
“As further details were being given, both myself and Frank were surprised to hear Dundalk get a mention as being the venue for the only sprint of the Southern Ireland leg.
“Getting the intermediate sprint was cause enough for celebration, but we were looking at each other, checking he did say the ‘only’ sprint!”
Frank Pentony is equally enthusiastic about the effect the Giro d’Italia will have on the town.
“The Giro d’Italia passing through Dundalk is cause enough for celebration. Add to that the fact we now have the only southern sprint plus a tourism section and TV cameras following the race through Dundalk and it’s a phenomenal opportunity to place Dundalk in the best light possible.
“While we always hoped that the refurbishment of the Market Square would have a positive effect on the town, we could never have envisaged that it could play such a major factor in bringing the Giro d’Italia.
“There will be a lot of work involved in the months ahead and we hope that the people of the town will get involved wherever possible to help us make Dundalk look its best for Giro d’Italia.”
The Giro d’Italia passes through Dundalk and Louth on May 11.
It arrives in Louth from its start in Armagh via Keady, over Keady mountain, Newtownhamilton, Lislea, Longfield Rd, and into Louth on the Carrickasticken Road, on its journey past Forkhill, into Kilcurry and joining the R177 Armagh Road, onto Lisdoo and into Dundalk Town Centre.
Leaving Dundalk, it travels on via Castlebellingham, and Drogheda to Dublin.
Looking forward, Giro organisers from Italy will be visiting Dundalk and Louth early in the New Year and will meet with Pat and Frank to go through the plans further.
Pat explained: “They assess the whole route, its feasibility, safety checks etc, work out what needs to be done, positioning of barriers etc, where the TV points will be and from then on, it’s full steam ahead to get Dundalk ready for Giro d’Italia 2014!”
The price of all-day parking in Dundalk is set to fall by a euro per day from €3 to €2.
Talk of the Town 