Dodging the rain on the Ring cycle

On this occasion a number of Valentia and Iveragh cyclists took part for the benefit of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Kidney Association. This local interest came to the fore as a result of the efforts for the Kidney Association by Patrick O'Donoghue of Chapeltown. Patrick had the good fortune to successfully undergo a kidney transplant operation a number of years ago and ever since is extremely keen to laud the Kidney Association and fundraise for it.

The Saturday morning of the cycle was for many cyclists a source of worry from a weather perspective. A number of us travelled to Killarney by car from Valentia leaving at about 3.45am, encountering heavy and prolonged showers on the way. We arrived to the starting point of the car park outside the town with an air of apprehension as the rain trickled down and cyclists changed and prepared from their cars and vans. Rain tops were the order of the day and we wondered were we in for a right soaking. However, there was no going back now. Too much training and effort had been put in and too much sponsorship gathered.

Our Valentia group consisted of the brothers Pat and Seamus O'Connor, Seamus's son Brendan, Brendie Murphy, Junior Murphy, John Shanahan, Con O'Shea, Eoin O'Connor and this scribe. We were accompanied also by Pa O'Connell of Cahirsiveen and Pat McCrohan of Renard. We set out at 5.20am and gingerly moved along among the clutter of bunched cyclists, encountering dark skies and rain as Fossa approached. Here our first mishap occurred as Junior Murphy's state of the art bike endured a puncture. Junior duly pumped his tube but this proved only a temporary solution and he was soon rescued by a repair crew member. Junior can travel and in quick time was side by side with his fellow cyclists.

The burden of worry of rain remained with us and the aim was to get to Cahirsiveen quickly and dry if possible. However, as the light of the dawn grew stronger clear skies opened to the west and inevitably spirits lifted. The north west wind increased but we cared little. No rain ensued. We glided down the slopes of Mountain Stage, situated between, Glenbeigh and Kells and were met fully and openly by the strong north west wind coming in across scenic Dingle Bay. It mattered little as the descent on the seaside slopes compensated for the rigours of the wind. On arrival to Foilmore it was a source of relief to see a dry road.

Thankfully, we reached Cahirsiveen as dry as a cork. On entering the East End of the town we could hear the booming voice of MC Tommy Gilligan of Valentia as he welcomed the cyclists outside Coláiste Na Sceilge, a major refreshment stop: "Welcome guys, welcome girls, it's good to see ye so fit and well".

The food stops along the way are to be highly commended but this is one of the main social ports of call on the journey, Well organised from the base of the Colaiste, there is an array and variety of food to be had, with plenty of local good humoured and friendly attendants on hand.

Our group, all still in one piece, having been well fed and watered, left Cahirsiveen and travelled through the environs of Renard and Waterville. The slopes of Cum a Ciste now beckoned after Waterville. For some a dreaded encounter but for the fit and hardy not so. John Shanahan set the pace followed closely by the youthful Brendan O'Connor of Valentia and Cian McCrohan (son of Pat of Renard) who joined us after Cahirsiveen. Cian, on returning from Australia suffered a cruciate ligament injury while playing a County League game with the Renard footballers. He has taken to the bike to strengthen his knee and was on his first Ring Cycle.

The road to the summit of Cum a Ciste has recently been resurfaced and made a huge difference in accommodating cycling comfort on the ascent. A steep descent down into Caherdaniel ensues from the heights of Cum a Ciste and our first encounter of rain since Killarney came with a heavy shower outside Sneem. It was uncomfortable, but thankfully the only heavy one encountered on the day. The scenic village of Sneem was to be our next stop and we endured a delay of about one hour here due to circumstances beyond our control.

Onwards our gallant brigade continued, but on the way to Templenoe we were rudely interrupted when Con O'Shea picked up a puncture. Valentia's Paudie Murphy, originally from Knightstown but domiciled in Cork for many years, came upon us. Paudie, an experienced cyclist with a Midleton, County Cork club, produced the most modern of emergency gear and changed Con's tube in quick time. He subsequently joined us into Kenmare, where he, Pat O'Connor and the scribe stopped for refreshments and a recharge of the batteries. Mike O'Donoghue of Chapeltown, and now Killarney based, was there in his role as a cyclist and Official Cycle Marshal.

Our group had now split up and Paudie, Pat O'Connor agus mé féin faced the arduous task of the climb of Moll's Gap. Paudie used all his experience and guile from year's of club and continental cycling to bring us to the summit. "Stay on my back wheel and I will bring ye along," he uttered. Good advice which brought us to the summit with ease. On the descent we came across Valentia's Eoin O'Connor with a puncture. No need to stop as he was in he capable hands of Seamus O'Connor and Con O'Shea.

It was a pleasure to cycle the last leg of the journey into Killarney with Paudie Murphy and talk of times past and present with a Valentia Islander with whom we have not met for some years.

50th birthday celebrations for Áine

Congratulations to Áine Cusack of the Old School Road in Knightstown who recently celebrated her fiftieth birthday in Boston's Bar of Knightstown with her husband, Cathal. family and friends.

Her son Oscar and daughter Róise provided the music and singing respectively. Also in attendance were children Fionn and Oisin.

O’Driscoll brothers from Dohilla

The O'Driscoll brothers who were reared in Dohilla on Valentia's northern seascapes overlooking the beauty of Dingle Bay recently spent a holiday in Valentia. The scribe bumped into the four brothers in The Ring Lyne Bar on the eve of the Ring of Kerry cycle.They are Mossie, Michael, John and Patrick O'Driscoll.

Portmagee swim and safety lessons to start

Swim week: Monday, July 18, at 10.30 am at Reencaheragh strand. Safety Week: Monday, July 25, at 10:30am in Portmagee community centre.

Registration night for swim and safety lessons on Thursday, July 14, from 8:00-9:30pm in Portmagee community centre.

It is necessary for a parent/guardian to attend on the night, to register child/children and to sign consent forms. Instructor will be present and handing out certs from Safety Week 2015 on the night.

Féile na nÓg games

The national games of Féile Na nÓg were recently held at various venues throughout Kerry with games taking place at Valentia and Portmagee venues on Friday and Saturday. Valentia were hosts to Mount Leinster Rangers of Carlow with various island families accommodating the team and families.

The games, played at under 14 grade, saw Skellig-Valentia under 14s defeat Mount Leinster Rangers on a score of 1-10 to 2-6 on their way to the quarter finals held in Cahirsiveen. However, they were defeated at this stage by St Patrick's of Wicklow, who went on to win the competition.

Tom Keane, originally of Cahirsiveen, is the Chairman of Kerry Coiste Na nOg and also Chairman of Feile Na nÓg in Munster. He was instrumental in bringing Féile to Kerry and Iveragh GAA fields and the various clubs would like to express their thanks to him.

Meanwhile, congratulations to Maeve Daly and Caoimhe O'Shea of the Valentia Young Islanders, who as Southern Gaels players, were awarded All-Ireland under 14 Féile medals.