Cork County Council has given its support to the Ironman Youghal event going ahead next year.
This comes despite recent controversy about the Ironman swim race proceeding under challenging sea conditions in Youghal in August this year, during which two men died.
A dispute broke out between Triathlon Ireland, the national governing body of triathlons, and Ironman about whether the race was properly sanctioned under Triathlon Ireland rules.
In a letter to county councillors today, Mr Tim Lucey, Chief Executive of Cork County Council, states that having considered the accounts presented to him by both Ironman and Triathlon Ireland and the council's current agreement with Ironman, "I have advised that Cork County Council will continue to support their planned event for 2024."
He goes on to say "This event is of significant tourism and economic importance to the region having already generated an economic impact of €20m, a continuation of which Cork County Council would wish to see."
Mr Lucey also sets out the Council's position, that as "host sponsor" of the event this year, in 2019 and 2022, its arrangement with Ironman is that "Ironman is the owner of the event. Ironman has the sole responsibility for the management and co-ordination of the event, this responsibility includes to run the event with due care and skill."
The Chief Executive also writes that "The matter of the sanctioning of a permit by Triathlon Ireland, such that a triathlon is run under federation technical rules, is a separate matter between Ironman and Triathlon Ireland."
The dispute about the sanction, he states, "is a matter which will be determined between both parties independently of Cork County Council."
