The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Caherdaniel gears up for charity cycle in memory of Ita Corridan
THE community of Caherdaniel are gearing up for this year’s Valentines charity cycle.
The event is now in its third year and this year’s cycle – which will see hundreds of cyclists make their way from Caherdaniel to Sneem and back – takes place on Saturday February 18.
Money raised by the cycle will go to the Marymount Hospice in Cork.
Since the cycle started in 2015 it has raised an astonishing €37,000 for the hospice.
Some money raised by last year’s cycle was also used to purchase Christmas lights which lit up Caherdaniel village wonderfully over the festive period. As well as helping a good cause, the cycle is held to honour the memory of much loved and greatly missed local woman Ita Corridan.
Ita was a lynch-pin of Caherdaniel Parish and her premature passing in November 2014 left a huge void in the community.
In 2015, to keep her memory alive, the Corridan family started the annual charity cycle to raise funds for the hospice where she was cared for before her passing.
In the two years since the cycle was established, it has become a fixture on the cycling calendar drawing cyclists from across the country.
For many cyclists in Kerry the 42km event is seen as a good appetiser and training run for the Ring of Kerry cycle in July, a portion of which runs along the exact same route.
The Caherdaniel Valentine’s Ride has attracted hundreds of cyclists since it was launched and this year some 300 people are expected to take part.
The cycle will leave Caherdaniel Cross at 1pm on Saturday February 18 with the peloton traveling to Sneem before returning along the same route.
After the cycle there will be refreshments in Caherdaniel’s village hall and later on that evening there will be a live band in the Blind Piper Bar. As ever, the cycle promises to be a great occasion and an opportunity to help a good cause while honouring a truly inspirational woman.