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The Tour de France making a return to Irish shores could be considered in the context of Ireland securing major events across a variety of sports, the Minister for Sport Catherine Martin TD has said.
She explained it was the stated policy of the current
coalition Government – involving her Green Party along with Fianna Fail and
Fine Gael – to bid for major sports events.
The Tour de France, she said, could be considered as part
of the process for deciding on which events to bid for, and provide State aid
to.
Cathal Crowe TD, a Fianna Fail representative for Co Clare, mooted a return of the French Grand Tour to Irish shores in a recent written Dáil question to Ms Martin.
Specifically he asked “if consideration will be given to extending an invitation to the organisers of the Tour de France for future stages of the race to be held along the Wild Atlantic Way”.
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Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the
Gaeltacht Ms Martin did not rule out the suggestion and explained how a
decision could be made on the idea in the future.
She said major events had the “potential to drive participation in sport” and could also “contribute to trade, tourism,
business, community pride, community engagement” and economic growth.
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“Such
events can also drive a sense of national pride and affect both how we see
ourselves as a nation and how we are viewed internationally,” Ms Martin added.
“In the
past five years Ireland has won the bid to host Ryder Cup 2026, EURO 2020 and
the Women’s Rugby World Cup and engaged in a bid for Rugby World Cup 2023.
“Ireland's
elite cyclists have represented us well this year not least of which of course
was Sam Bennett's impressive stage wins at the Tour de
France and his success in winning the green jersey.
“The
Government, through Sport
Ireland, continues to support the national governing
bodies for sport in Ireland, promoting elite athletes and encouraging
participation.
“In regard to future events, the programme for
government contains a commitment to develop a policy and a strategy for bidding and hosting major events
and an assessment model for State financial support for such
events.
“Decisions
to bid for any future major events, such as the Tour de France, will be made in
the context of this events policy.”
The Tour de
France last visited Ireland in 1998 when a drugs bust just before the racing
was due to get underway overshadowed the event and almost stopped the race when
it went back to French shores.
More recently the
Giro d’Italia started in Ireland in 2014, with a TTT and road stages in the
North before the race headed south for a stage into Dublin.
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