THE start of the 1998 Tour de France in Ireland will be worth about £30 million to the economy, the Minister for Tourism and Trade said yesterday.
Confirming that the opening three days of the Tour will be held in Ireland, Mr Kenny claimed the Irish taxpayer will get excellent value for the £2 million the State is putting up to bring the Tour here.
It will bring 200 riders, 3,500 accredited personnel, 1,000 journalists, 13 helicopters, four aircraft, 500 radio channels and an estimated television audience of 950 million.
The event will begin with a 7 km time trial in Dublin city centre on Saturday, July 11th, racing against the clock on a circuit taking in O'Connell Street, Christchurch, some of Georgian Dublin and finishing back in O'Connell Street.
The first stage will start from Dublin the following day, travelling down the east coast to Bray and Arklow, inland through Woodenbridge, Avoca, Rathdrum and Laragh, over the Wicklow gap into Blessington and Tallaght, and finishing in the Phoenix Park. The stage will cover a distance of 175 kms (110 miles).
On Monday the entourage will transfer to Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, to commemorate the 1798 Rebellion. This stage will travel on to New Ross, through Waterford to Carrick on Suir and south to Dungarvan and Youghal, finishing in Cork city. This will be a distance of 200 kms (125 miles).
From Cork, Stena Line will move the tour to Roscoff in Brittany in what the shipping line said yesterday will be the largest movement of any sporting event worldwide.
Mr Kenny told a press conference in Dublin Castle that the 1998 Tour de France will be the biggest sporting event ever held in Ireland. "I am glad to have been able to secure Government agreement to provide the necessary State funding of £2 million to bring the Tour to Ireland."
The director general of the Tour de France, Mr Jean Marie Leblane, said: "Shay Elliot, Martin Earley, Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche have greatly contributed to the radiance of cycling, the legend of the Tour de France, and the relationship between our two countries. In coming to Ireland, the Tour de France wanted to pay tribute to these extraordinary athletes."
The chairman of Bord Failte, Mr Mark Mortell, said it was good for Ireland's image that it would be hosting three major sporting events in 1998 - the Tour de France, the World Equestrian Games and the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race. But he acknowledged this will put pressure on accommodation and amenities.
The chief executive of the Dublin International Sports Council, Mr Jonathan Irwin, said winning the Tour de France stages gave increased credibility to the capital's ambition eventually to host the Olympic Games.