Imagine this: a crowd of 100,000 on the streets of Galway city, another 30,000 in Tuam and another 20,000 to 30,000 gathered at roadside locations in between. All on a high-season summer weekend.
Small wonder that the Galway Arts Festival is very troubled about Galway Motor Club's recent announcement that it intends to switch its annual February rally to July next year.
The announcement was heralded as good news when made late last month because for the past two years the rally has been synonymous with trouble in the western city.
Following a recent rally, 28 people appeared before Galway District Court on public order offences.
The problem is that the alternative dates selected by the motor club, July 22nd and July 23rd, coincide with the arts festival's Macnas parade and the Connacht GAA football final.
"This is unwise and unnecessary, and we are very alarmed at the clash," says Mr Fergal McGrath, manager of the arts festival.
"We cannot understand why the rally, which has been very successful overall for the past 27 years, should want to move from February to high season, putting great pressure on accommodation, services and policing. It is a recipe for disaster."