PLEASE SUPPORT US TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS YEARS CHARITY

 

WE HAVE RAISED OVER €60,000 FOR CHARITIES WITH A LOCAL CONNECTION SO FAR

SPONSORSHIP CARDS AVAILABLE

 

The charity for this year's event is 

 

 

EAST GALWAY AND MIDLANDS

CANCER SUPPORT BALLINASLOE 

 

 

INFORMATION FOR THE CYCLE

 

CYCLE ROUTE

Start and finish at the community center in the heart of New Inn village 

 

 

The event is a 100km leisurely cycle through east Galway and beyond passing through Ballinasloe, Shannon Bridge, Eyrecourt and Kiltormer  back to New Inn 

 

Press link button at the top of page for route map

 

REGISTRATION OPENS

Registration is open on the day starting at 8am and it is €30 plus €5 for non Cycling Ireland members

     

EVENT START TIME

Set off at 9.30 am 

 

EVENT SIGN ON

Sign on will be in the community centre with two separate sign on sheets for Cycling Ireland members and non cycling Ireland members 

 

What you get:

1.You will also receive your event identification that you must wear in order to identify you on the day

2. Event map and emergency contact number

 

CAR PARKING:

There will be parking available at the community centre

 

EVENT SAFETY:

NB: The Rothar cycling club cycle is not a closed road event and you must adhere to the normal rules of the road.

 

• Cycling on the route is maximum of two a breast.

• The event is a sportive and NOT a race and you are responsible for your own safety and the safety of others on the road.

• You will receive an event map and key safety details at event sign on.

• The route selected for the circle are generally quiet roads but you will encounter some main road junctions. Please be aware of traffic on all roads.

• Marshals will be evident throughout the route. Please remember marshals are there to assist and instructions given must be followed  

You must check for oncoming traffic at all junctions

• All participants will be provided with an emergency contact number in the case of an emergency on the route. 

• You are responsible for taking part in the event on a safe and suitable bike. Participants are responsible for their own bike maintenance. There is limited mechanical support system will be in place and will sweep throughout the route.

• Please ensure you have spare tubes in the event of a puncture and do not rely on the emergency number for help with changing punctures etc.

• No earphones permitted

• No tri bars permitted

 NO HELMET NO CYCLE

 

FEED STATIONS

 

At 30 km at Shannon Bridge there will be the first food stations

At 60km at Eyrecourt there will be the second feed station 

At the finish their will be a BBQ for participants

 

We recommend that you also bring your own supply of water, gels and food also

 

FIRST AID: 

Ambulances and first aiders will be available all day, should anyone require medical assistance it will be administered in the fastest possible time frame. Please call the emergency contact number provided on the day for medical emergencies. 

 

WHAT TO BRING: 

Your bike must be in good working order to cycle for the 100km route

– Helmet

– Water bottle (s)

– Spare tubes and a Puncture repair kit

– Mobile phone with credit

– Emergency money & ID

– Energy snacks

– Wind / Rainproof top – Participants must be aware that weather conditions in this area can change and you should bring appropriate clothing to keep warm in any adverse weather.

– Sunblock – we hope you will need plenty of this. 

 

AFTER THE EVENT

 

After the event there is a free BBQ laid on for everyone who participated and helper

 

SHOWERS 

 

Showers will be provided the center

Please be aware that these facilities have a maximum capacity and you may be in a queue

CYCLING IRELAND REGISTERED AND INSURED EVENT

 

HISTORY ALONG THE WAY 

 

The Rothar club charity cycle route with a bit of history behind the various towns and village we will be passing through 

 

Our first village we will travel through will be

Kilconnell means : The church of St. Conal.   On our left is the well preserved ruin of Franciscan monastery built in 1414 by William O'Kelly, the then  Lord of Hymany, and unoccupied since 1785. 

As we leave the village we pass the Arrabawn Creamery, one of the largest liquid milk production plants in the west of Ireland. 

 

and then on to 

Ballinasloe  means : The  ford of the crowds -- a onetime important crossing place on the river Suck.    Population 7,000 approx, makes it the 2nd. largest town in Co. Galway, and most famous for it's Annual Horse Fair, since the 1700's.  It's Railway Station is of beautiful design & stonework, built in 1851, when Dublin railway-line first extended from Athlone to Galway city.   The Grand Canal from Dublin, ends beside the Shearwater hotel, and was built in 1828, being the main source of transport to west before the railway.  Heading out of the town, we pass the very large St. Brigid's Hospital, much of it now unoccupied, but first built & opened in 1833. 

 

Then travelling to 

Shannonbridge which marks the joining point of county Offaly, Roscommon & Galway. The beautiful stone bridge is one of the oldest over the Shannon, built in 1757, giving the town it's title, prior to which it had the Irish name "Reachra".   It was later heavily fortified, with a massive fort building (now a restaurant), built in early 1800's.  The callows upriver of town, a Special Area of Conservation, is one of the few places in Ireland that the corncrake can still be heard.  It is also the location of the ESB turf-powered generating station. 

 

Clonmacnoise -- Unfortunately our route does not take into this beautiful & historical location, it being some  7k north of Shannonbridge !   But please take time, at some stage to call into it's excellent visitor centre.   In film & displays, it shows just how famous it became, after it was founded by St Kieran in 544, until the 1100's when it had grown from just 10 men, to a then city of over 2,000 people.    It also explains how & why, for many centuries it was visited, as a place of learning by scholars from all over Europe !  

 

On to

Shannonharbour -- This beautiful settlement was purpose designed & built in 1830, as a transshipment centre, at the meeting place of the Grand Canal, the river Brosna, and the Shannon.      One year alone, during the 1840's the shipments of produce through here exceed 300,000 tons, and over 1,000 people lived in the immediate area !

 

Banagher means : The place of the pointed rocks.   It was an important Shannon crossing, and immediately after going over the bridge we pass a large Martello Tower, built in early 1800's. 

Then it's on past Meelick, as we travel the lovely road towards Eyrecourt.   Few realise that Meelick Roman Catholic church is the oldest such in constant use, since built in 1414.  It was founded by the Franciscans, whose last presence there was in 1852.   Because along here, there is such a change in the water level of the river, a canal & lock gate was built in 1843, and it is one of the busiest on the entire Shannon, with a drop of 2.4 metres, almost 8 feet !   Yet another Martello tower was built here in 1811, with an Offaly side location, on Moran's Island. 

 

Eyrecourt is next -- a picturesque village, with some very interesting buildings & features.  It is historically associated with the Eyre family who came here about 1660.  Their castle gate entrance can be seen, at the end of the main street.  

 

Kiltormer is next, and it too is associated with the Eyre family, where they had another home called Eyreville.   The families lost most of their wealth during the famine years, eventually selling their remaining lands, and moving back to England. Today their presence is most remembered by the name of Eyre Square in Galway, and a memorial to Jane Eyre in St. Nicholas' Cathedral. 

 

Next it's on through Mullagh, and then Cappatagle, which means : The meadow of rye. 

 

On home to

New Inn appears, from over the motorway, and few realise that up to about 1960 it was on the main road, from Dublin to Galway, which also included Kilconnell & Athenry !   At that time, it was decided  "by the powers that be"  that the Aughrim/ Kilrickle/Loughrea route would be better ?   It was an important stop on  "the old road", and prior to building of the railway, about 1850, it is believed that the road transport of Guinness from Dublin included an underground storage facility beside the old barracks, recently restored.

 

 

Composed by Tom Garvey