THE Ring of Kerry charity cycle is well underway with some participants on penny-farthings, high Nellies and traditional butcher boy delivery bicycles leaving Killarney well before dawn to get ahead of the rest.
The 175km fun cycle is one of the sporting and cultural highlights of the year and this year close on 7,000 people hit the road to raise funds for a number of chosen charities.
One of the main beneficiaries this year is local teenager Ian O’Connell, who sustained life-altering injuries in a fall from a bicycle last August, and a group of his classmates in St Brendan’s College joined many others when they took to the Ring for Ian this Saturday.
Ian, himself, was at to see the cyclists off and he was joined by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr John Sheahan, Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Norma Foley, Bishop Ray Browne and Lily of Killarney Carmel O’Leary.
Over the past 35 years, the event has raised almost €15 million for 150 charity organisations.
Cycle committee chairman, Tony Daly, said the main charities have expanded this year from 10 to 14 and include national and local organisations who do great work in the communities but need help to continue.
There are 30 additional charities associated with the event also allocated funds from the registration proceeds.
The main beneficiaries are the Kerry Parents and Friends Buy a Bus Campaign, Down Syndrome Ireland, Enable Ireland, Irish Kidney Association and St Mary of the Angels intellectual disability residential care.
Support services to benefit will be Breakthrough Cancer Research, Bru Columbanus and the Kerry Hospice Foundation while generous donations will also be made to community organisations Baile Mhuire, Caherciveen Social Services, Irish Community Rapid Response, KDYS, Pieta House and St Joseph’s Home, Killorglin.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan. Click on individual images for details
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