In 2006, when I was Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I officiated at the prize-giving ceremony of the Irish Adventure Challenge. Here I encountered the toughest single-day adventure race in Ireland taking place over the highest and most rugged terrain in our country. Now I am pleased to say this race takes place annually as the country’s premier one-day adventure race, An Turas Beag.

On the back of the success of this race has grown a second and far bigger event introducing World Series Adventure Racing to Ireland for the first time in the summer of 2008. A magnificent 650-kilometre course will lead the world’s foremost adventure athletes through the wildest sea and mountain scapes in the Southwest. The vision behind An Turas Mór extends to see Ireland host a 2008 and 2009 World Series Adventure Race, culminating in the 2010 World Championship. Along with these races, festivals of music, food and culture will bring rural communities along the Atlantic seaboard together, while encouraging outdoor and adventure tourism by sharing the beauty and challenge of these special places to a worldwide television audience.

Our legends tell of inspiring and powerful journeys over seas, into hidden valleys and over magical peaks. During the intense and demanding weeks of these races, I imagine these athletes will be inspired by the feats of the legendary heroes of Ireland. These world-class athletes and those who travel to experience the spectacle of the competition will find a challenging course, but a welcoming people. As they journey, many stories will emerge not only around human endurance, but also of the riches of our heritage, history, archaeology, music and art as they share in contemporary Irish life. I wish success and enjoyment to all involved in this great adventure.

John O ‘Donoghue TD Ceann Comhairle Dáil Eireann (Chairman, Irish Parliament)