One of South Tipperary's best-known and longest-running motorcycle road races has had to be abandoned due to the recession.
The Faugheen 50 Supporters' Club announced this week that the popular local motorcycle road race, which is run annually in the village near Carrick-on-Suir, will not go ahead this year..
A club spokesman said: "Unfortunately, due to the current ec
onomic climate, the club does not have the funds in advance of the road race weekend to meet expected bills."
The Faugheen road race costs more than j80,000 to run. Most of the funding is obtained during road race weekend from such sources as entrance to race days, racer entry fees and sales of programmes.
The clubs says that, despite being generously provided with a substantial amount of free or at cost items and the goodwill of many local companies and individuals, it simply cannot meet the large expenses involved in running the race.
However, the club says that it remains committed to running the Faugheen road race in 2011 and that it will "pursue with tremendous vigour" a number of major fundraising events this year, in order to have sufficient funds in the bank to pay bills prior to the 2011 race.
The club's committee thanked residents and landowners in and around the village of Faugheen for their continued support and said it hoped this support would continue into next year.
Members also thanked South Tipperary County Council, Cllr. Denis Landy, Carrick-on-Suir Garda Station, local ambulance services and volunteers, sponsors and local companies for their support.
