THE Red John O’ Donovan Festival kicks off in West Cork at 2pm today.

The Red John Memorial, run at Lyre between Clonakilty and Dunmanway has captured the imagination of trainers and owners from Donegal to Durrus.

A king-sized purse structure (€100,000 over two days) bank rolled mainly by Irish American harness racing owner Bill Donovan, a well organised committee and a field owner, Ger Heggarty, who is constantly improving the track, makes it a recipe for a super meeting.

The 2018 renewal will see the first British entries as Alan Jones brings three runners over on the ferry.

As in the world of GAA there will be some crunching tackles on the track, as the Rebels and the Dubs battle for honours. The paint will be scuffed on a few expensive sulkies as the drivers fight for position on the all important first bend.

Afterwards, the local hostelries will be doing a roaring trade with the drivers who tried to put each other through the outer ropes bosom buddies until they go behind the car again tomorrow.