Dublin seems transported to Paris as celebrations of tour begin

Le Tour de France en Irlande arrived officially in Dublin yesterday evening. But it felt more as if Dublin had been transported to Paris.

In the Civic Offices the Corporation played host. More than 1,300 members of the international media entourage joined other guests to celebrate the tour's arrival. They enjoyed a variety of entertainment as well as the best in French and Irish cuisine.

Wood Quay has seen some major invasions in its day, but this was on a scale to match any of them. Dublin Lord Mayor, John Stafford, was more than busy as host but Stephen Roche, Tour de France winner in 1987, was the man everybody wanted to meet.

"It's still hard to believe the tour is actually starting here," said Roche, the guest of honour. "This is the best recognition possible for the outstanding contribution of Irish cyclists to the tour over the last few decades."

The Lord Mayor added that he was delighted to welcome the tour "on behalf of the city of Dublin." As a cycling enthusiast he would be taking a special interest in it.

Sean Kelly, another of the tour legends, was putting his fluent French to good use while tour director Jean Marie LeBlanc seemed genuinely impressed with the welcome.

The most relieved man in the house was Pat McQuaid, who after nearly four years of hard work could sit back and enjoy the celebrations.

"I knew all along that this would be big but it's only now that the whole thing is really sinking in," said McQuaid, who is chiefly responsible for bringing the race to Irish roads.

"Walking around here and listening to all the French, Spanish and other accents is incredible. I honestly believe this is the biggest sporting occasion the country will see for a long time to come."

Tourism is also preparing for the benefits of the television audience of some 950 million people who will follow the tour.

Frank Magee, chief executive of Dublin Tourism, is making the most of the foreign invasion.

"This is definitely the biggest single exposure Dublin has ever had on the world stage," he said. "You don't get opportunities like this too often so we have prepared a great welcome for this race."

Across the road in Dublin Castle, the thousands of foreign cars and buses that accompany the race were lined up in impressive fashion. Between all the 21 competing teams, the race sponsors will bring an amazing amount of colour to the Irish roads over the next three days.

The castle will be used as the race headquarters for the duration. Yesterday the courtyard was a mass of foreign journalists filling out accreditation and trying to come to terms with the rather unusual prospect of setting off on the 1998 Tour de France in Dublin.

This evening the race will be publicly launched when all 189 riders will be introduced in an opening ceremony at St Stephen's Green.

It will then be down to business tomorrow when the race sets off from College Green on a time trial around the streets of Dublin - the first few kilometres of the 3,850km route that will take them all the way to the Champs Elysee on August 2nd - via Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork.