Killarney will sure be a busy spot for the first Bank Holiday weekend in May, with thousands of spectators descending upon the town to catch a glimpse of the 2009 Rally of the Lakes. Have a look at our brief guide to see what’s in store…

The Killarney International Rally of the Lakes takes place on the first May Bank Holiday weekend (2nd and 3rd of May) this year. Thousands of spectators will descend upon Killarney town to watch tarmac rally crews compete for the top prizes. Competitions taking place over the weekend include:

The International Rally of the Lakes

The National Rally of the Lakes

The Historic Rally of the Lakes

The Junior Rally of the Lakes

Now I’m sure the rally drivers and their co-pilots will not be taking very much notice of the scenery, but it is only fair to say that the course passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Pre-rally formalities start on the Friday as racing begins really early on Saturday morning, so naturally Killarney town will be a lively spot on Friday night.

Rally HQ is at the Gleneagle Hotel on Muckross Road, where you can obtain the official Rally of the Lakes programme.

If you would like to keep up to date with news of the event, please have a look at the Rally of the Lakes website.

If you’re coming to Killarney for this event, then we strongly advise you to book your accommodation now as this is an extremely busy weekend in the town. Have a look at our Killarney Accommodation page now and find the latest available hotels, guesthouses, B&B’s and self catering accommodation for that weekend.

If you have been to the Killarney Rally of the Lakes in the past, why not drop us a line in the comments box below about your experience - we would love to hear from you.