RE-BOOTED RÁS TAILTEANN TO FINISH UP IN BLACKROCK

Blackrock is set for a significant boost following the announcement that a revived Rás Tailteann will conclude in the seaside village on Sunday, 14 June next.

Cycling enthusiasts are in for a treat as the final stage includes four laps of a 10km circuit, while Blackrock itself will get lots of national and international television and media exposure.

Pat O’Shaughnessy was instrumental in getting the famous race to Co. Louth.

‘ There was a hiatus last year in that the event didn’t happen,’ explains the Dundalk man.

‘Six of us got together and decided to run the race as Cáirde

Rás Tailteann.’

Pat was joined by Seamus Domegan, Gerry Campbell, Colm Rigley, Eugene Moriarity and Ciarán, with each man having at least 25 years Rás experience.

Eugene, from Kerry, is Race Director.

‘As it is a new race in effect this year, we were hoping for a different finish (Skerries has had the honour for a number of years including in 2018) and to put a whole new shine on it,’ Pat continues.

With his own experience of running national events in Blackrock (the A3 and Veterans’ Championship in 2012) and the Elite Championships in Carlingford a year later, Pat was keen to bring Rás Tailteann to his own area.

‘I put it to Cúchulainn CC and they absolutely rowed in behind it because even though the Rás is organised nationally we need people on the ground.’

Pat also singles out The Clermont in Blackrock for coming forward to give its backing.

‘ There has been such a buy-in locally and in cycling in general.

‘While there is huge participation in cycling in this area, the Rás might encourage more younger people to take it up and perhaps race competitively.’

As it stands, thousands of spectators are expected in Ireland’s tidiest small town for about 75 minutes of high speed action as 175 riders tackle the four laps before the finish outside The Clermont where the winner of the yellow jersey will be decided.

There are five riders perteam, team, and already eight international teams are confirmed and they will be joined by trade and county teams.

The cyclists will be sharing the road with 50 support vehicles, 8 police motorcycles, 30 marshall motorcycles, a command vehicle linking with gardaí and marshalls, as well as all the photographers and TV crews covering the Rás.

‘It will look just like the Tour De France or Giro d’Italia,’ Pat enthuses.

‘ The reaction already has been fantastic. We have been inundated with messages of goodwill.’

With slots on that day’s six o’clock and nine o’clock news Rás Tailteann will put Blackrock squarely in the shop window.

‘It will be brilliant for the village to get this exposure,’ Pat remarks.

The final stage begins in Kinnegad before the race travels through Trim, Navan and Slane en route to Blackrock.

The first of five stages is on Wednesday, 10 June when the riders will cover a distance of 140.1km from Dublin to Horse and Jockey.