PARTICIPATION Get On Your Bike with An Post Cycle Series

18 Mar 2009

An Post and Irish Sports Council Launch Joint Initiative

An Post has joined forces with the Irish Sports Council to encourage communities around the country to get back on their bikes.

The An Post Cycle Series will include five events around the country, in Sligo, Clare, Meath, Waterford and Cork. Each event will be organised by local sports partnerships, under the auspices of the Irish Sports Council. The Series includes one Tour each month from May to September 2009.

"The An Post Cycle Series offers whole communities around Ireland an opportunity to be part of the fun of a really inclusive day out, to experience close up the beauty of their locality and to rediscover the simple pleasure of getting back on their bikes. The Series promises to be a great way for family to spend a day of fun together, while the more serious rider can enjoy a more challenging route "said Donal Connell, Chief Executive of An Post

"We are very excited about the new An Post cycle series", John Treacy, CEO Irish Sports Council said. "Cycling as a sport has huge potential to increase participation in physical activity. The collaboration between the Local Sports Partnerships, Cycling Ireland and An Post in this project opens the sport to a new audience. The project makes the most of all the talents of the various partners and is exactly the type of innovation that we are delighted to support".

An Post already has a strong association with cycling in Ireland through sponsorship of the An Post/Seلn Kelly professional cycling team, and sponsorship of the Green Jersey on the Tour of Ireland.

"Our work with the Sports Council on the An Post Series is an extension of our relationship with cycling," said Connell. "This is just bringing it full circle, right back into the community and to people of all ages who are ready and willing to get on a bike this summer."

The An Post Series gets underway this summer with the first event, the An Post Tour of Sligo taking place on Sunday, 10th May. This will be followed by the second event in Clare on Saturday, 20th June, and Meath's An Post Cycle Series will take place on Sunday, 5th July. The Waterford event will be on Sunday, 30th August and the final An Post Cycle Series event will be in Cork on Sunday, 13th September.

Further details on each of the events in the Series, and how to become involved, will be available on www.anpost.ie/cycling.

 

For further information please contact:

Greg Keane, WHPR
Greg.keane@Ogilvy.com
016690030