Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In 2019, when I was a councillor and mayor of Clare, I put down a motion asking that the Wild Atlantic Way host a stage of the Tour de France. That motion got unanimous backing from all parties. It took off and made its way to the Government. I was delighted on election to the Dáil to be able to meet with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, and Fáilte Ireland and to keep a bit of momentum going on this matter. I have been speaking with the famous Seán Kelly about it. We really want the Tour de France to go down the Wild Atlantic Way. I am delighted the Government is pursuing this. The Taoiseach is surrounded by many west of Ireland Deputies. We will count the Taoiseach in that bracket as well as a Cork man. We would love to see the Tour de France go down through Galway, Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry - down the Wild Atlantic Way. I hope the Taoiseach will turn around and ask our friend and colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, that a Tour de France grand départon the Wild Atlantic Way in 2026 or 2027 become the Government's position. We do not want it going from Dublin to Belfast this time. We want it in the west of Ireland. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle might agree.

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