PARTICIPATION The An Post/Irish Sports Council Cycle Series Gets Underway in Sligo

On Sunday 10th May the An Post Tour of Sligo proved to be a huge success with over 700 cyclists from all over the country on their bikes in bright sunshine along the roads of Sligo. The event was co-ordinated by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership in conjunction with a local organising committee. Main sponsors of the event were An Post and the Irish Sports Council while significant support locally was provided by Sligo County Council, Sligo VEC, Failte Ireland, Super Valu and Connacht Gold.

Cyclists arrived from early morning to the cycle headquarters at the Institute of Technology Sligo and the place was a hive of activity with cyclists getting their final preparations in order and their bikes ready for the road. Mayor Cllr. Veronica Cawley and Cathaoirleach Cllr Jude Devins welcomed all cyclists to the event and wished the cyclists an enjoyable tour. Special guests included David O Loughlin Irish Olympian cyclists, Barney Whelan An Post and Michael Crowley of the Irish Sports Council. The Ox Mountain Challenge got under way at 9 am and this was followed by the Lough Gill circuit at 10 am. The final group headed off at 12 noon and included a large group of enthusiastic family cyclists on the Hazelwood 10K.

Reflecting on the cycling tour, the An Post Tour of Sligo event committee paid tribute to all who made the event a success including the community groups and clubs along the route, safety personnel, An Garda Siochana, local cycling clubs Innisfree Wheelers and Eire Og and St. Johns Hospital Garden Room Committee (the nominated charity).

Feedback from participants was very positive. One cyclist from the Lakeland Cycling Club Fermanagh summed up his experience of the day as follows:

"Just to say a few words of thanks for all the organisation and management that went into the An Post cycle events yesterday. I did the Ox Mountain Challenge, and was amazed by the amount of marshalls deployed, route signage, and food/water stops. A big thank you goes out to all of those who gave of their time to make the event possible and safe and provided us with nourishment along the way. Well done ! Hopefully this won't be a one off thing as not only was the event superbly well run, but the scenery was breath taking".