Articles in relation to Shane being part of  Rally Ireland

 

30th october  2008 :Shane sings the praises of rally fun

 
 


Westlife singer Shane Filan was driving without wings yesterday.

The 29 year old singer got into the driving seat of as he crusied in his citroen C2 car in Strandhill Beach, county Sligo.

Car fanatic Shane who is from Sligo, joined driver Sean Galagher at the launch of Rally Ireland 2009.

The rally last year attracted more than 250 000 spectators.

One onlooker said "the dad of two, i guess being a singer shane was well used to handling what is a finely tuned vehicle"

 

Credit/Source:Irish Mirror/Mary for scanning for wfvip

 

29th october  2008 :Need for speed Westlife star changes gear
 By Anita Guidera


Thursday October 30 2008

WESTLIFE singer Shane Filan indulged another passion yesterday when he performed rally car stunts on a beach.

The multi-millionaire singer and property developer, who has his own extensive top-of-the range car collection, wasted no time sending sand flying at Strandhill, Co Sligo.

He got behind the wheel of the Citroen C2 belonging to rally champion Shaun Gallagher, to mark the official launch of Ireland's biggest sporting event next year.

"It was amazing, great craic. It was a great rush. I'm glad I did it but I was glad he was beside me because I could have toppled it over," said a delighted Shane afterwards.

He added that although Westlife is on a break, he had no plans for a career change.

"We are definitely taking a break, but I think I'll stick with the group. I don't know about driving rally cars, but it was great fun," he said.

Rally Ireland 2009 will take place from January 29 to February 1 across seven counties in the North West including Sligo, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Cavan, Roscommon, Tyrone and Donegal .

It will mark the opening of the World Rally Championship 2009, which for the first time will be happening in Enniskillen, and not the traditional venue of Monte Carlo.

In 2007, Ireland's first involvement in the WRC, 250,000 spectators viewed the event and an estimated €48m was generated for the North West economy.

Speaking at the launch in the rally headquarters in Sligo, Junior Minister Dr Jimmy Devins, said that next year's event was equally significant.

"2007's Rally Ireland was seen by more than 62 million people in over 180 countries worldwide.

"Rally Ireland 2007 was a huge success due to the organisers, the local community here and the thousands of fans who witnessed this tremendous sport,'' he said.

"I have every confidence that Rally Ireland 2009 will be another major success.''

Chairman of Failte Ireland North West, Paschal Mooney, assured potential visitors that they would have the time of their lives.

Rally Ireland event director, John Naylor, said that the success of the event in 2007 had been recognised by the WRC when Ireland was given the honour of hosting the opening round of the 2009 championship.

- Anita Guidera

 

Credit/Source :independent.ie

 

30th october  2008 :Rally Ireland 2009 is launched in Sligo (includes picture of Shane)


Rally Ireland 2009 was launched today in Sligo by Dr. Jimmy Devins, T.D., Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Brian Smart, Director of Department Culture, Arts and Leisure Events Unit, Shane Filan from Westlife and World Rally Championship driver and Donegal native Shaun Gallagher.



The sport’s governing body, the FIA, has bestowed Ireland with the honor of marking the start of the 2009 WRC season. It is the first time in almost 30 years that the beginning of the World Rally Championship (WRC) has been held outside of Monte Carlo, the traditional starting point for each WRC season.

Rally Ireland 2009 will take place between the 29th January and the 1st February with 18 stages taking place through seven counties in the North West; Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon.

At the launch Dr. Jimmy Devins, T.D., Minister for State for Science and Innovation, who is a native of Sligo, hailed the event’s return to the North West; “2007’s Rally Ireland was seen by more than 62 million people in over 180 countries worldwide. The potential for the North West to position itself, as a major tourist destination through this level of coverage is very significant. Rally Ireland 2007 was a huge success due to the organsiers, the local community here and the thousands of fans who witnessed this tremendous sport. I have every confidence that Rally Ireland 2009 will be another major success.”

Chairman of Failte Ireland North West, Mr Paschal Mooney said;
“We are delighted to host the World Rally Championships in January 2009 and to have rally headquarters here in Sligo City. We can assure all visitors that they will have the experience of their lives and we hope they will share the joys and memories of their visit here with their loved ones when they go home. The North West has largely been untouched by mass tourism and her beauty spots remain intact. In recent years, we have seen major investment in tourism products and the range of accommodation and facilities available to the visitor is second to none,” concluded Mr Mooney.

“Rally Ireland 2007 was a huge success in showcasing Northern Ireland internationally. Once again we are delighted to be involved in what is a world class event in a thrilling sport, that will give spectators North and South of the border the opportunity to see the worlds best drivers first hand,” said Brian Smart, Director of Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Events Northern Ireland.

John Naylor, Event Director for Rally Ireland;
“The success of Rally Ireland 2007 was recognized by the WRC when we were given the honour of hosting the opening round of the 2009 Championship. Across the region festivals are been organsed and this event will once again provide fans with the opportunity to see the world’s top rally drivers battling the testing stages in the North West and all for free.”

January 29th marks the ceremonial start of Rally Ireland 2009, which takes place in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. The Rally proper will begin the following morning with the first stage taking place in Cavan. Rally Ireland will then run through six more counties before finishing with the last stage in Donegal Town on Sunday. The final stage will be broadcast to a live global TV audience. The ServicePark will be based in Sligo IT, while Rally HQ will be in the Clarion Hotel in Sligo town.

In 2007 Rally Ireland attracted 250,000 spectators, generated €48million in economic benefit to the region and was viewed in over 180 countries by in excess of 62million people. Rally Ireland was given international acclaim by the WRC who declared the event as the second best round of the World Rally Championship in 2007.

Rally Ireland is run by Motorsport Ireland in conjunction with the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs (ANICC) with sponsorship from Failte Ireland and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). The 2009 World Rally Championship will be run in 12 rounds across the world and will reach a global TV audience of over 800million. For more information on Rally Ireland 2009 log on to

Rally Ireland Offical Website - www.rallyireland.org

 

Credit/Source :Rallyiamge.com

 

29th october  2008 :Rally Ireland launched in Sligo


 

The Launch of Rally Ireland is taking place in Sligo today.

The event will take place from the 29th of January to the 1st of February 2009 and covers seven counties throughout the North West including, Sligo, Fermanagh, Leitrim Cavan and Roscommon, Tyrone and Donegal.

The last event in 2007 attracted 250,000 spectators and generated 48 million for the economy.

In attendance at the launch today will be, Westlifes Shane Filan, Shaun Gallagher, 2007 World Rally Championship Rookie of the year and the event director John Nayler.

 

 

Credit/Source :oceanfm

 

29th october  2008 :Shane plans to burn some Rally rubber


Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Shane plans to burn some Rally rubber

WESTLIFE star Shane Filan will next week drive a rally car around Sligo to mark the return of Rally Ireland and the World Rally Championship to these shores in January 2009.

The local Rally Ireland committee will launch the 2009 WRC event on Wednesday of next week (October 29) with a parade of rally cars through the streets of Sligo, headed by Shane Filan.


Shane, who is a self-confessed car lover, will be piloting Donegal driver Shaun Gallagher’s Citroen C2, the car in which Shaun and Sligo co-driver Paul Kiely, have competed in events all over Europe. It is believed that several other rally cars will be involved in the parade at 12.45pm on Wednesday.



Meanwhile Shane and Dervish star Cathy Jordan, helped to drum up some support for the 2008 Sligo Live festival, which takes place this Bank Holiday weekend.


Sligo Live runs from October 23 to 27 and includes an eclectic line-up of entertainment from comedy to traditional music, world music, dance and rock bands. Headliners include Cathy Davey, Tom Baxter and comedian Jason Byrne.
 

Credit/Source :