VBOA International Rally 2010

[matt]

The 2010 VBOA International Meeting will be held in Ireland from May 23rd to May 29th and will be hosted by the VBOOCI.

The International Irish Tour will start in Athy, Co. Kildare on Sunday May 23rd from 3pm onwards and finish in Athy on the morning of Saturday May 29th after breakfast. Athy is a short drive from the major ferry ports.
The Tour will take in Counties Clare, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, West Meath and Wicklow, and will visit some of the best beauty and historic venues Ireland has to offer (see itinerary for details). All models of Vauxhall, Bedford and Opel vehicles will be welcome to attend.

Pricing has been kept as low as possible to encourage people to visit Ireland, join the Tour and have a holiday at the same time. Entrants are offered 4-star hotels at a special Tour price and will book direct with the hotels themselves. A camping option is also available. An entry subscription of 75 Euro will be paid to the VBOOCI to help towards the organising of the Tour. Entry forms and money must be in and paid by January 31st 2010 at the latest.
All entrants must ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and legal and have proper insurance cover for use in Ireland.
The subscription includes:
• Booking number and details for hotels, road book & bumper plate
• Emergency breakdown and roadside assistance with recovery to a safe place
Not included:
• Travel to and from the event
• The cost of entry to attractions/venues visited
• Food during day trips
• Transporting recovered vehicles home

Getting to Ireland
Irish Ferries provide a Ferry service from France direct to Ireland and a choice of services from England.
Stenaline offer a choice of channel ferries to England from Europe and a further choice to Ireland.
Norfkline also offer a good choice but have longer crossings.
If entrants decide to travel as a group we will try to secure a price reduction on their behalf (if notified in time).
Car Hire: Opel cars can be hired at a special rate for entrants.
For any further details contact Bill Ryan on VBOOCI@gmail.com
All details are correct at time of printing. Due to the nature of the event items may be subject to change.

[matt]

Day One
Arrival at Carlton Abbey Hotel, Athy, Co. Kildare from 1500hrs. (www.carltonabbeyhotel.com Athy Kildare )

Day Two
Depart Hotel from 0900hrs.

Trip 1
Entrants can visit The National Stud and The Japanese Gardens in Kildare Town (www.irish-national-stud.ie) Followed by a visit to the world renowned Newbridge Silver visitors centre in Newbridge Co Kildare (www.newbridgesilver.com)

A pleasant drive through the .stud country. of Kildare to Blessington, Co. Wicklow will bring you to Russborough House and its charming period tea rooms, gardens and art collection. (www.russborough.ie)Then return to Athy for dinner is through Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow and Castledermot. (www.visitwicklow.ie) 70miles/110kms approx.

Trip 2
Depart Athy and visit Russborough House, Blessington Co. Wicklow.(www.russborough.ie) Followed by a drive by Blessington Lake onto the famous drive, The Sally Gap. (www.visitwicklow.ie) and the Military Road which drops down into the historic monastic settlement of Glendalough with its two lakes and pleasant walks. (www.glendalough.ie)

The tour then will take you through the scenic mountain terrain to visit Laragh, Rathdrum, Avoca (of TV's Ballykissangle fame), Tinahely, Baltinglass, Castledermot and Athy for dinner. 106 miles/160kms
Day Three
Depart Athy for Oranmore Lodge Hotel, Oranmore Co Galway (www.oranmorelodgehotel.ie) stopping in Tullamore Heritage Centre. Tullamore, Co. Offaly. (www.tullamore-dew.com)
Followed by a drive through Clara, Ferbane and on to the Monastic City of Clonmacnoise on the banks of the River Shannon. (www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/clonmacnoise/)

Later travelling through Ballinasloe and Athenry (yes of the fields' fame!) to the hotel in Oranmore for the next three nights. 108 miles/170kms
Day Four

Trip 1
A day trip to the historic City of the Tribes, Galway with its myriad of shopping streets and great pubs with the freshest seafood from the City's quays. Boat trips to the Arran Islands are also available from the City's quays where the recent 2009 Volvo Ocean Yacht Race stopped to avail of Galway's legendary hospitality. 10 miles/ 18 kms (www.galway1.ie)

Trip 2
Take the scenic drive around Lough Corrib (www.corribcruises.com) and drive via Cong, Maam Cross of the "Quiet Man" movie fame and Kylemore Abbey. (www.kylemoreabbey.com) Returning to Oranmore via Oughterard and Galway City. 110 miles/176 km

Day Five
A visit, via Ballyvaughan, to Aillwee caves (www.aillweecave.ie)in the World Famous limestone formation known as the Burren is followed by a trip via Doolin, Co. Clare to the Cliff's of Moher. (www.cliffsofmoher.ie) Europe's highest sea cliffs.

Following this we will be returning to Oranmore via Corrofin, Co. Clare through the Burren National Park.(www.burrennationalpark.ie)and on through Gort, Co. Galway and back to Oranmore Hotel . 85 miles/135kms (approx)

Day Six
Following departure from Oranmore we will cross the River Shannon at Portumna, Co. Galway and stop at Birr Castle and Gardens for a visit. (www.birrcastle.com) We will then cross the Slieve Bloom Mountains through .The Cut. and drop down into Mountrath, Co Laois and pass through the small country towns of Abbeyleix and Stradbally heading to our final destination of Athy for our farewell gala dinner and presentations. 105 miles/170kms

Day Seven
Individual departures for home destinations after breakfast

[matt]

All Entrants will subscribe 75Euro per car entered to the VBOOCI to assist with the organising of the event.
Entrants will then be given an event number and details to book Hotels direct:
Hotel One
For Sun23rd/ Mon24th and Fri28th May:
The Carlton Abbey Hotel, Athy, Co Kildare. Cost per night for bed/breakfast/dinner will be 53 Euro per person sharing.
A single supplement of 20 Euro per night will apply.
Children sharing with parents will cost 25 Euro in total for up to three children for bed breakfast only. The cost of children.s dinners will be 7 Euro 50 Cents Each. ( Kids Menu)
Hotel Two
For Tues25th/ Weds 26th/ Thurs 27th May
Oranmore Lodge Hotel, Oranmore, Co Galway. Cost per night for bed /breakfast/ dinner will be 60 Euro per person sharing. A single supplement of 20 Euro per night will apply.
Children sharing with parents will cost 20 Euro per child per night for Bed /Breakfast only and 10 Euro each for dinner ( Kids Menu).
Camping
For caravans/camping
Site One - Athy
Forest Farm Caravan Camping Park, Athy.
Web: www.accommodationathy.com
E-mail: forestfarm@eircom.net
Tel: 00353598631231
Site Two - Galway
Ballyloughane Caravan Camping Park, Galway
Web: www.galwaycamping.com
E-mail galwcamp@iol.ie
Tel: 0035391752029
Fax: 0035391753098

Please check with camp sites for prices

[matt]

If you want an entry form PM me

[mitch1965]

This is one I shall be deffo doing next year & will be booking the time off, joining the fun!!

[justEdnow]

Want to be careful on driving around most of the routes as the roads are horrendous for pot holes, but on the good side some great views and you take in some of the route that was in Top Gear Magazine either last month or month before (3 supercars in snow and ice).

Galway is a great city to be in IMO, my ex is living up there and been there tons of times. There a tidy pub lunch to be had at Cong to.

I will be at the hotel on day 1 in the Burg there will be a group of Opel enthusiasts having a meeting there as a welcoming.