New race to honour true gent & legend of the road; Séamus Kennedy Memorial planned for this weekend

In his pomp: Seamus Kennedy - or Kenno - takes the applause and the trophy for winning the big one - Rás 1978

Having lost one of its favourite sons Séamus Kennedy to cancer last year, the Irish cycling community will this weekend contest a number of races to honour the memory of the former Rás winner.

Séamus was very well known all over the country due to the fact that he had competed at the highest level during his racing career, notching up four national titles, taking the 1978 Rás and gaining national selection for a number of foreign races including the Tour if Israel and Tour of Tunisia.

He competed in the Rás 18 times, every year between 1965 and 1981 and in 1983, his last. He was introduced to cycling in the early 1960s where he joined the local club in Ballivor, winning the beginner's league in 1964.

And after a glittering senior career he continued to race well into his veteran years, claiming plenty of races well into his 40s and even 50s.

As a mark of respect and to recognise his contribution to the sport of cycling, the DID Dunboyne cycling club is holding the Seamus Kennedy Memorial and DID Grand Prix events this Sunday, July 21^st.

The events are being held in association with Cycleways; the well known cycling shop owned by the Cassidys and Connaughtons, with Philip Cassidy and Brian Connaughton having been life long friends of Séamus.