The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
33 years and still counting.. Ring cycle comes up trumps
CATHAL Walshe has been Public Relations Officer for The Ring of Kerry Cycle almost since its inception – and his enthusiasm for the event is in no danger of losing gloss any time soon.
The 2016 event, another astonishing success to add to a volume of astonishing successes, will only serve to cement the event’s appeal.
“We’d 11,000 cyclists again this year,” Mr Walshe shares proudly, “and they had another 20,000 or so waiting for them at the Beech Road Car Park when they pedalled their way back to Killarney”.
Though the official start time on Saturday July 2 was 6am, some soldiers made an extra-early start to the day and departed from the car park shortly after 4am.
The cyclists were welcomed by somewhat drizzly weather not befitting of Munster’s biggest one-day charity fundraiser but, mercifully, the sun made its appearance as bikes began to roll through Cahersiveen.
Mr Walshe has previously described the route as one of the most scenic on Earth, so it was some relief to him that the weather came around and showed south Kerry in its best, beautiful light:
“It was great to have it pick up, because we’d cyclists from all corners of Ireland, and indeed the globe coming to participate who’ve no doubt been looking forward to soaking in the famous scenery.
“Every single county in Ireland was represented, and 25 other nationalities were mixed in amongst the 11,000 cyclists, as indeed was our Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.”
Now in its 33rd year, the cycle has raised upwards of €10 million for good causes, and 10 charities in particular will benefit from this year’s efforts:
“It’s impossible to tell at this stage what we’ve managed to raise, but my correspondence with the charities has provided very good feedback so far,” Mr Walshe said.
And he was quick to praise the work of the 2,000 volunteers dotted around the course who allowed the mammoth fundraiser to wheel around safely:
“There’s no end of people every year who assist us in making this a success, year in year out, and I thank all of them again.”
“The volunteers that help us out are excellent, and they proved themselves well up to the challenge of keeping everyone safe.”
John Browne of Cumann Rothaíochta Chorca Dhuibhne was among those who participated in the 2016 edition.
It was his fourth completion of the much-loved charity cycle, and he was joined by seven more members of the west Kerry cycling club:
“We supported a range of different charities between us, and as always it was a terrific event to take part in.”
“I suppose the weather was initially a bit worrying, but thankfully it cleared up and that made the day even better.”
Mr Brown was beaming in his appraisal of the event:
“The reaction from the members of Cumann Rothaíochta Chorca Dhuibhne was overwhelmingly positive of course.
“It’s great to raise funds for good causes, and the circuit itself adds to its appeal.”
He also expressed that the event’s popularity can be attributed in no small part to the upsurge in appetite for outdoor sports:
“Cycling has been booming in recent years. You can see that with the amount of people who’re interested in our own club, and then when you come to this you get more than a sense of how popular outdoor sports are now – it’s overwhelming!”
We’d cyclists from all corners of Ireland and indeed the globe coming to participate