Cavan's tourist industry received a major boost following the announcement by local Fianna Fail Councillor John Paul Feeley that a full stage of Rally Ireland will be based in West Cavan in 2009.

This will be the first occasion for Cavan to host an entire section of the Rally having only provided service facilities in 2007.

The stage will be located in the Glangevlin area with final details to be released in the coming weeks.

The Rally Ireland officials confirmed that, subject to approval by the international governing body West Cavan would host a stage of the Rally in January 2009.

'Following our initial meeting with Rally Ireland, I did not anticipate as prompt or as comprehensive of a response.

We certainly left the Rally Ireland representatives with a clear sense of the potential of the County and we felt that at some stage they would include County Cavan.

" I did not expect that we would have a full stage in West Cavan to be known as the 'Cavan Stage', and at that one running practically past my front door,' stated Feeley.

"This event will be back in the region at least every two years and can form the basis for further expansion of Rally Ireland in the County", added Councillor Feeley

Research conducted by the University of Ulster confirmed that Rally Ireland 2007 attracted some 250,000 spectators making it the largest sporting event in Ireland, 17,000 of whom came from overseas and it had an economic benefit of approximately ¤ 48 million on the Irish Economy.

The challenge for Cavan is to bring together all the stakeholders in the County to ensure that West Cavan gets the maximum economic benefit from the event itself and that those who come to see Rally Ireland leave with a positive impression of our County and all we have to offer.

Attracting this event show Cavan has the capacity to host major sporting and cultural events.

The potential is there to attract further events and in particular work to develop Rally Ireland in County Cavan after 2009.