Kells to Valentia cycle has raise €100,000 over 20 years

ON Saturday, October 1, Timothy Lyne, who is the treasurer and deputy launching authority of the Valentia RNLI branch, travelled to Waterville in company with its assistant treasurer, Sean Curran, to accept a cheque to the value of €2,000 from the Waterville Golf Club personnel as a result of holding the Charlie Chaplin golf classic.

On the following Sunday the annual RNLI Kells to Valentia cycle, via the Valentia car ferry, took place with over 100 participants of adults and children.

The cycle, now in its 20th year, was first organised by Dora O’Reilly and the wider community of Kells as a result of her son, John O’Reilly, being rescued by the Valentia Lifeboat, having been swept out to sea in his small boat in the Kells area.

Dora, after 20 years of fundraising through the Kells cycle, is to retire this year.

With refreshments having been consumed in the Royal Hotel after the cycle, Timothy Lyne, presented her with a plaque in recognition of her efforts and those of the people of Kells for the benefit of the RNLI over the years.

A sum of €100,000 was raised during the course of the 20 years of the Kells to Valentia cycle.

The Valentia RNLI fraternity expressed sincere thanks to Waterville Golf Club and the Kells community for the very generous funds raised down through the years.