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The following Regional Driving Rally Events are happening in the various regions around the UK over the next year to celebrate our 70th Anniversary. If you’d like to take part or find out more information about an event, please speak to the organising Regional Officer for that event/part of the event.
Please Note: We will update this list on a regular basis as soon as information becomes available.[accordion title=”Event List”]
[accordion-item title=”All Ireland Tour (10 – 18 September 2022)”]
Come and join us on one or more days from Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th September 2022, where we tour from region to region within Ireland.
Saturday 10th September 2022
The all Ireland tour will commence in the Leinster region on Saturday 10th September. The meeting point will be at a hotel in County Wicklow, a short distance south of Dublin. The itinerary for the day will be to take a leisurely and scenic drive through counties Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny. There will be plenty to see and admire and many options for lunch and refreshments along the route. Highlights along the way will be Glendalough, The Wicklow Gap, Hollywood in Wicklow, a great drive on quiet country roads through historic towns of Ireland’s ancient east, such as Tullow, a great example of a traditional Irish country town, picturesque Clonegall with Huntington Castle, Borris, home of the mediaeval kings of Leinster, the charming village of Inistioge and finally Kilkenny where the tour stops for an overnight in a 4-star hotel, walking distance from the 12th Century Kilkenny Castle. The hotel cost is €240 (Euros) per couple for dinner, bed and breakfast on the first evening.
Sunday 11th – Monday 12th September 2022
Michael Daly Regional Officer Munster South is organizing the following 2 days:
On Sunday 11th following the overnight stay in Kilkenny, there will be a journey of 130 miles to Killarney in the South West, which is on The Wild Atlantic Way and The Ring of Kerry. Those that wish can visit Kilkenny Castle first before departing on your journey. On route you can visit The Rock of Cashel which is an hour from Kilkenny. For those of you who wish to go off route you could visit Mitchelstown Cave near Mitchelstown, Blarney Castle near Cork City and Jameson Distillery in Midleton which is East of Cork City. On arrival in Killarney, you can soak up the atmosphere of this town with its bustling streets and magnificent National Park. You could also visit Muckross House a Victorian house completed in 1843. Queen Victoria herself visited here in 1861. After Killarney head up Moll’s Gap with its spectacular views on the way to the 4* hotel on The Ring of Kerry for the night. The cost of the hotel is 190 euro per couple for dinner, bed and breakfast.
On Monday we will continue on the Ring of Kerry with its dramatic landscape of coves, cliffs, broad bays and rugged countryside set against the Magillycuddy Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountain range. From Killorglin proceed to Castlemain and on to Inch Strand. This was the setting for much of David Lean’s 1970 film Ryan’s Daughter. There are splendid views across the bay to the Macgillycuddy Reeks. From here we will drive 50 miles around the Dingle Peninsula. This has an ancient landscape, dotted with remnants of early Christian churches, monastic settlements and Neolithic structures. It is the most westerly landscape in Europe and the dramatic scenery of Slea Head, the brooding presence of Mount Brandon and the marvellous chain of precipitous cliffs and sandy beaches will remain etched in your memory forever. Then for the last 30 miles proceed out of Dingle over the Connor Pass to Tralee. The view from the top of the pass shows Dingle Bay to the south, while to the north are sweeping views over the Maharees Peninsula to Tralee Bay. The cost of the 4* hotel in Tralee is 178 euro per couple for dinner, bed and breakfast
Tuesday 13th – Thursday 15th September 2022
Sean Mc Greevy, is organising the North Munster / Clare and Connaught Regions part of the tour:
We will depart Tralee in Co Kerry on Tuesday morning. We will travel to the greater part of the Wild Atlantic Way over the next three days. This is the “Driving” part of this great adventure.
Departing Tralee, Co. Kerry on Tuesday, September 13th we will travel north to Tarbert and avail of the short 20 minute Ferry crossing on the Shannon Estuary to Killimer, Co. Clare and proceed on the costal route to the world famous Cliffs of Moher, visitor centre / restaurants. This is a spectacular venue with views of the Aran Islands. On leaving the Cliffs and Doolin we will travel the North Clare
Coast towards Galway Bay and overnight on Tuesday night Sept 13th in a four-star hotel on Galway / Salthill promenade.
On Wednesday morning Sept 14th we depart Galway through Connemara, Killary Harbour, Kylemore Abbey, Louisburgh, Croagh Patrick and overnight in Westport Town.
On Thursday, September 15th we travel from Westport towards Achill Island, Mulranny and the North Mayo coast into Sligo’s Yeats Country and overnight in Donegal Town. At the dinner in Donegal, we will then pass the baton to Trevor Mitchell. We are working on sponsorship for the Shannon Ferry Crossing and visiting the Cliffs of Mother. The Galway, Westport and Donegal hotels are hotels the Club have used in the past and we can be assured of a great welcome
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th September 2022
In the absence of a Regional Officer for the Northern Ireland Region Trevor Mitchell, the Club’s Regional Development Director will be organising the final Northern Ireland part of this event which will start in Donegal town on Friday morning 16th September 2022. We will travel into the small border town of Belleek where we will stop and visit the world-famous Pottery there. Time will be allowed to have a factory tour, visit the extensive shop and have a mid-morning snack or lunch in their restaurant.
After leaving the pottery we will travel through County Fermanagh not far from Lough Erne travelling south towards Enniskillen and then heading east through the Clogher Valley and into County Tyrone and Armagh the ecclesiastical capital of all Ireland. We will arrive at our Co. Armagh hotel mid to late afternoon giving time to have a rest before dinner, visit the hotel’s leisure centre or the two cathedrals in the small city of Armagh, the famous Armagh Observatory, The Palace Stables or Navan Fort.
After breakfast on the Saturday, we will travel from our hotel into County Down and Slieve Gullion just on the border with County Louth for a scenic forest drive with some stunning views. Moving on eastwards through County Down through the Mourne Mountains and then onwards via the village of Spa, the town of Ballynahinch and arriving in the greater Belfast area for our final overnight stay with Gala Dinner to finish our fantastic 8-day event.
After breakfast on Sunday morning, you may wish to visit some of the many attractions in Belfast including TitanicBelfast, City Hall and Stormont before making your own way home after a really memorable week’s driving.
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[accordion-item title=”Isle of Wight: 70th Anniversary Drive (8 – 9 October 2022)”]
We have a provisional allocation of 20 rooms at the Lakeside Hotel, Wootton, IOW. Participants will book direct with the hotel and Mainlanders can negotiate with the hotel to stay longer if wished, than just saturday and sunday nights. The hotel will arrange their ferries as part of the package offered. We plan to let members arrive on saturday late morning, meet for lunch with our IOW members, and leave the rest of Saturday for them to sightsee.
There will be a hotel dinner for Mainlanders and island members to get together on either Saturday or Sunday night. On Sunday we will plan a “drive it” morning around the south and west coast, with free time in the afternoon for members to visit other attractions or complete a route back to their hotel.
For further details please contact Nick and Judy Ballanger at nick.judy.ballanger@mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
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