Triathlon set to bring cash boost to the city

Hotel rooms across Galway are booked out ahead of a gruelling long-distance triathlon event taking place at the end of June, which is set to create a boost for the local economy well in excess of €1 million.

More than 1,650 participants have already signed up for the mammoth 225km ‘Challenge Galway’ event – which attracts ‘big spenders’.

And a series of professional triathletes – including a world champion – will be unveiled next week to take part in the race.

The triathlon will be held on June 24, and a race village will be built at the former ‘Topaz’ site at Galway Docks, which will include concerts, bars and other entertainment over the weekend.

Race Director Conor Kelly told the Galway City Tribune: “The athlete village will include a stage, expo area, VIP area, the finish line and two big marquees.

“On the Friday, there will be a paid-for ticketed concert, and on the Saturday and Sunday, there will be free entertainment. There will be licensed bars and food stalls and so on.

“We already have 1,650 signed up, so we’re bang on target for the 2,000 we were expecting. Challenge globally carry out surveys of participant, and have found that 4.8 nights is the average stay and the athletes usually come in packs of three and four.

“Hotels we’ve been dealing with are all booked out,” added Mr Kelly.

For more on the Challenge Galway triathlon weekend, see this week’s Galway City Tribune