Taxback.com is proud to announce our sponsorship of the first ever open water triathlon in Kilkenny on 24 July 2010.

The Taxback.com Kilkenny Triathlon will provide a positive boost for Kilkenny’s local economy and sports community with an expected 500 participants for the event.

Taxback.com has an office in Kilkenny and our CEO Terry Clune said he was delighted to be able to sponsor this fantastic new event.

“Kilkenny is a great place and this type of sports event is an ideal showcase for the city,” Clune said. “We hope that by creating a successful event we can bring more visitors to the region and make this triathlon a highlight in the country’s annual sporting calendar.”

Triathlon competitors will swim through the heart of the city along the River Nore, followed by a cycle taking in Bennettsbridge and finish with a run around the grounds of Kilkenny Castle Park. The finish line will be located on the newly refurbished Parade Plaza and the course is designed to maximise viewing opportunities for spectators.

There will be both sprint and Olympic distance events open to individuals and relay teams of all abilities.

Race organiser Lorraine Murphy said the triathlon would be a great opportunity to show off the city’s historic beauty and attract thousands of visitors to the event annually.

“Having attended races around the country and abroad for a number of years we realised that Kilkenny’s geography, location and historic setting made it ideally suited to an open water triathlon,” Murphy said. “We’ve seen the enormous positive impact triathlon events in Athy and Athlone have had on those towns and we see this as an opportunity to boost the local economy and promote a positive image of the city.

Kilkenny Mayor Malcolm Noonan said the triathlon would be a wonderful event for the city: “It’s a good fit with all that we are trying to promote here and it has huge potential for leisure tourism in the city and county. It promotes fitness and healthy lifestyles and I warmly welcome this event to our beautiful city.”

For more information on the Taxback.com Kilkenny Triathlon or to register visit www.trikilkenny.com. If you’d like to support this event by volunteering on the day, contact us at trikilkenny@gmail.com.