Castleisland might yet host Rás Tailteann stage this year

CYCLING in Kerry, and particularly in Castleisland, was given a major boost at the weekend with the announcement that the Cairde Ras Tailteann may take place this year.

In April, Cáirde Rás Tailteann announced its decision to postpone the 2020 Rás Tailteann - because of Covid-19 - which was due to return to the roads of Ireland in June 2020 after a hiatus in 2019. The race was due to have a stage end in Castleisland bringing with it a major financial boost to the town.

Stage 2, a 155 km route from Horse and Jockey in Tipperary, would finish in Castleisland with Stage 3 travelling from

Castleisland to Lisdoonvarna in Clare. Castleisland has hosted numerous stage ends over the decades.

On Friday morning Cáirde Rás Tailteann decided to extend the postponement of the 2020 Rás Tailteann. A statement from the organisers said that having assessed the most recent guidance issued by the WHO, the HSE, Sport Ireland and the Government of Ireland and considering the measures in place in relation to the Covid-19 epidemic, Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided to extend the postponement of the 2020 Rás Tailteann which was originally due to return to the roads of

Ireland this week.

The statement added that with a clearer and increasingly positive outlook emerging week by week in the battle against Covid19 and with the government plan for easing restrictions according to the published road map accelerating, the indications suggest that a window of opportunity could open to potentially put the race on the road before the end of the 2020 road cycling season.

“It was agreed this week that the most prudent course of action at this time would be to extend our decision of April last and aim to set a very tentative start date toward the latter end of September next, using the same

published route.

All of this is of course still very heavily contingent upon any restrictions that may still be in place, the availability and support of the Gardai, county councils, the health services, accommodation and the many volunteers upon whom the Rás relies so heavily and which we cannot realistically know for some time yet,” said Race Director Eugene Moriarty, a native of Listowel.

“We were bitterly disappointed that circumstances conspired to prevent the Rás returning to the roads of Ireland this week, but the well-being and safety of all our volunteers and athletes as well as the general public continue to remain at the top of our agenda.”

Seamus Donegan, the Stage End Co-ordinator, said the organisers have received phenomenal support from all of the stage end committees throughout this difficult period.

“Every one of them has provided a commitment from the outset to help ensure that the 2020 edition would go ahead from their end if at all possible. The flexibility and understanding shown by our stage end accommodation providers has been crucial to us still being able to look forward to a potential 2020 Rás at this point.”

Listowel native Moriarty is no stranger to the Ras Tailteann having participated in this iconic event on a staggering 21 occasions since he took up the sport in 1984 with Listowel Cycling Club. He has a string of minor finishing stage successes to his credit.

Followers of the sport will remember the final stage end of the 1999 Ras Tailteann on O’Connell Street, Dublin where he was pipped on the line for a stage win after an incredible race around the streets of Dublin.

A full time athlete from 1996 to 2005, Moriarty is now on the board of Cycling Ireland and is based in Holland.

Photo By Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus Eoin O’Mahony and Mitchell Donnelly from Tralee Co Kerry enjoying wakeboarding on the water on Fenit Bay as covid restrictions are lifted – Fenit bay had many boats and swimmers on the water last week and most of the people were Social Distancing and having fun again