Athea motorcycle racing club to be launched on Sunday

Motorcycle racing club to be launched on Sunday 

The SouthWest Road Racing Club will be officially launched this Sunday with a special event in Athea

In September this year, the club outlined its intention to revive the popular motorcycle road races that took place in the village between 2002 and a2009.  The event did not run in 2010-due to financial reasons but was back on the calendar in 2011 when brothers Michael and the late William Dunlop dominated the event. 

The SouthWest Road Racing Athea Club will run the first event in over ten years on the August Bank Holiday weekend next year. 

The main club has been formed by a group of Motorcycle Road Race supporters based around Athea, Abbeyfeale and Listowel. These club members participate in Road Racing and other members participate as Road Race marshals at race events.

On Sunday the club is hosting a range of fun fundraising events ahead of its launch later that day.

A truck and tractor run will depart Athea at 1 pm and follow a route to and from the village to Listowel, Duagh and Abbeyfeale. The club expects to have 50 tractors and over 30 trucks attending. Entry €25. Over 80 vehicles are set to take part. 

Later in the evening, Brown Joe’s bar in Athea will host the club’s official launch. 

“Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to see these magnificent machines close up,” said the club’s Aillen Herlihy, “We welcome one and all to come and enjoy the day and the craic in Brown Joe’s bar that evening. All proceeds will go towards funding the SouthWest Road Racing Club and next year’s races.”