Ring of Beara: not all about the bike
THE annual Ring of Beara cycle of 140kms commenced from the town of Kenmare through Ardgroom, Eyeries, Urhan, Allihies, Castletownbere and Glengarriff to finish in Kenmare. It was blessed with ideal weather conditions; it was dry with a little breeze
The Valentia islanders who participated were John Cooper; Donal ‘Lott’ Murphy; Seamus O’Connor; Con O’Shea; PJ and Mary B O’Sullivan; Tony Curran; Seamus Lynch; and this writer.
Commiserations to Pat O’Connor (Cooil); Glenflesk-based Valentia Islander Mike O’Donoghue and the Killarney-based islander Cautie Lynch, a trio unable to participate due to injury.
I was joined at the 8.30am start by Over-The-Water’s Pádraig O’Shea (for many years the four-oar cox of the Sive Rowing Club); Brendan Sheehan of Cahersiveen; and Seamus Lynch of Valentia. On the road to Ardgroom we were joined by Mike Greaney and Joe Thompson of Cahersiveen. At the first refreshments stop in Ardgroom we met PJ and Mary B O’Sullivan, Tony Curran of Valentia, Padraig Brennan of Waterville, and those hardy Portmagee boys Dermot Keating and Mike JP O’Sullivan.
We soon encountered the hills, dreaded by some and relished by others. Pádraig O’Shea, with his light greyhound frame of nine stone, which has served him very well as a four-oar cox down through the years, sailed up the hills, even humming a song. Along the route he also regaled his fellow cyclists and others with historical stories and general anecdotal banter. He was born on August 23, 1953 and is a former RÁS Tailteann competitor. He recalled a bad injury which he sustained on the slopes of Bealach Oisín in the Rás Tailteann of 1979 after which he spent a considerable period in hospital with a fractured skull and other serious injuries.
On leaving Glengarriff we met Mike Casey from the Spa near Killarney. Mike, in years gone by, cycled from San Fancisco to New York. The journey was completed in 42 days, during which he completed 96 miles per day. Padraig O’Shea was quite impressed by such an achievement: “Shake his hand, shake his hand,’’ he uttered to fellow cyclist Brendan Sheehan on the subject of Casey’s achievement.
The former Kerry footballer Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, very involved in the organising of the cycle, greeted cyclists as a finishing line steward. It’s always nice to see him there.
On that evening the beautiful weather contributed to a most enjoyable and memorable social occasion in the town. Cyclists, tourists and locals alike mingled freely in the square while enjoying refreshments. It was akin to a balmy evening in Rome or Barcelona.
We met the locals who were out in force, and a riveting and intriguing street conversation took place on such topics as the referendum, Kerry football, current affairs and local history. Our Kenmare company included the brothers Arthur and Dan O’Sullivan, James McCarthy(an esteemed local historian), Paudie Moriarty, Edward O’Sullivan, Bertie McSwiney, Donal McCarthy and Jackie Tuohy together with his wife Mary and sister Rita. We were also joined by the Portmagee boys, Dermot Keating and Mike JP O’Sullivan.
James McCarthy, social and current affairs commentator and local historian of considerable repute, wondered at the result of the referendum and had some very interesting observations on future referenda and their impact on constitutional change and legislation.
On the cycle, it was intriguing to meet GAA club people dissatisfied and disillusioned with the all-too rare appearances of inter-county players with their various clubs. There was a general feeling that the so-called free month of April given to county players for the benefit of assisting their clubs was only cosmetic and window dressing.
It feels as though the inter-county player being wrapped in cotton wool and seeing very little club football is causing huge rancour among the grass roots out there.
This writer and Pádraig O’Shea would like to express sincere thanks to Kenmare’s Jackie Tuohy for the overnight accommodation. Thanks also to his wife Mary and sister Rita. Incidentally, Mary and Rita cycled the ring and are managed and coached by Jackie. However, at the morning start, Jackie was nowhere to be seen to impart last-minute tactics and vital advice. In spite of this significant psychological blow they improved on last year’s time, but Jackie has promised to be up with the lark next year in sending the two gallant ladies on their way.