Dun Laoghaire to apply to host 2016 Volvo Ocean Race

A new move to win the 2016 Volvo Ocean Race for Dun Laoghaire is being proposed.

The Dublin town missed out on the chance to host the prestigious event that will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Galway this summer.

Councillors have criticised the council's failure even to apply to host the 2012 event. But a move to get the event four years from now might bring some consolation.

The international race has proved a bonanza for Galway, but Fine Gael councillor John Bailey said Dun Laoghaire would have attracted more people than Galway.

"We need to bring the 2016 race to Dun Laoghaire. It's too late to apply for 2014, but we could make it a great success in 2016," he said.

Two years ago, when it emerged that Galway had retained the international event for 2012, Dun Laoghaire councillors expressed dismay the council had not even applied. The council explained it had not been in a position to underwrite the costs.

One of the council's critics, Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF), said the council now had to do all it could to attract the event, even if it meant making a joint bid with the other Dublin council areas.