The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Locals excel on the Ring of Kerry cycle
ON Saturday July 7, the 35th annual Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle took place.
As the cycle took place in the middle of the greatest heat wave to hit the country since 1976, there was a lot of apprehension among participants on the run-up that the heat would be intense. However, the weather was ideal and comfortable, and many cyclists stated that for them it was one of their most enjoyable.
Valentia Islanders who took part were Brendie Murphy; Seamus O’Connor; his son, Brendan; daughter, Sinéad; Tony Curran; Seamus Lynch; Liam Lynch; Con O’Shea and Cautie Lynch. They very much missed their fellow island cyclist Pat O’Connor from Cooil who, due to sustaining a broken collar bone earlier in the year, was ruled out. Eoin O’Connor was also missed.
We left Killarney that morning at 6am, some even earlier. The weather was pleasantly cool and dry, and the first man we met from the deep south was Pádraig Brennan of Waterville. Padraig was walking by Killarney Cathedral towards the start with bag and baggage.
A real veteran of the Ring cycle, he has completed many such events. An early morning fright from a mink, who stuck its head in this writer’s spokes, but managed to free itself, was the only blip on the day.
We encountered the first blast of a warm summer breeze just before the Red Fox Inn as the day brightened further.
The view from Mountain Stage of Dingle Bay and the Blasket Islands was heavenly in the early morning summer serenity. The Greenway Cycle has to come. That lovely road sign Welcome to Kells and south west Kerry greeted us – always an indication that the first major stop at Cahersiveen is not far away.
We then passed our fellow Valentia Islander, Cautie Lynch, domiciled in the Ross Road in Killarney for many years. Cautie was cycling well within herself and seemed to be enjoying it. On approaching Strand’s End in Foilmore, we encountered a stronger, but welcome and not intimidating, westerly breeze. Soon the East End of Sigerson Clifford’s “town that Climbs the mountain’’, Cahersiveen, was approached, and as we entered we heard the booming voice of Valentia’s Tommy Gilligan as he welcomed cyclists to the major stop at Coláiste Na Sceilge .Tommy is becoming the Mícheál O’Hehir of this annual event.
There are many Valentia and Iveragh stewards and catering staff in place annually from early morning here, and cyclists are always appreciative of the welcome and friendliness accorded to them by these annually dedicated people.
Onwards towards Waterville in ideal early morning conditions complemented by a pleasant, cool breeze. Eilish Dennehy of Renard (née O’Donoghue, originally of Feighmane, Valentia) and Margaret Murphy (wife of Tommy) of Ardscost accompanied us for a while.
As we ascended towards Com an Chiste we observed a Univerity College Cork GAA skull and crossbones jersey inscribed with the number 10 on a lone cyclist ahead of us. It was none other than our Valentia colleague Brendie Murphy. Brendie was going well in spite of a very late training start. He was on his 15th ‘Ring’ in a row. Go maire sé ar an mbóthar le fada.
On to Com an Chiste and a stop at the awesome summit where we met the Valenta family trio of Seamus O’Connor; his son, Brendan; and daughter, Sinéad: great annual family campaigners.
We encountered a slight damp squib of mist just before Sneem. No harm. We had a welcome 99 ice cream in that lovely village.
Valentia’a Junior Murphy was here in company with his Irish Lights colleagues.
Onwards to Templenoe and past Pat Spillane’s bar, and then to beautiful Kenmare and its decent people where we met friends of long standing of that town over a cup of coffee in the Café Mocha in the town square. They were Kerry footballer Stephen O’Brien’s cousin James McCarthy, Arthur O’Sullivan, Jackie Tuohy and Paudie Moriarty. Paudie’s nephew, Eugene Moriarty of Listowel, recently completed his 21st Rás Tailteann. We thanked them for the copious cups of coffee and good wishes to us.
We bade them farewell and negotiated Moll’s Gap, dreaded by some and relished by others, to reach sunny Killarney and the usual great electric atmosphere and welcome in the square. What a day, and roll on an bhliain seo chugainn.