Race Around Ireland & Salmon Knowledge Festival
The Race Around Ireland has been given a significant boost with news that a new festival is set to coincide with the start of the event.
Now in its ninth year, the event is regarded as perhaps the toughest endurance sports event in the country.
And while it has attracted world class riders from all over the globe, it is a local festival in Trim, Co Meath, that is set to expose the race to the wider public like never before.
The inaugural Salmon of Knowledge Festival takes place in Trim on the last weekend in August as the race is getting underway.
And the organisers of that festival are putting the start of the Race Around Ireland as the centre of their weekend.
It means the bike race should benefit from bigger than ever crowds at the start. And it should also piggy back on the media coverage of the Salmon of Knowledge Festival locally and indeed nationally.
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The Race Around Ireland gets underway on Sunday, August 27th.
It continues non-stop over 2,150km around the coastline of Ireland. It finishes when the final competitor makes it back to Co Meath inside the five-day time limit
There are solo competitors and teams of two, four, and eight riders competing.
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Some of the solo riders to grace the race in recent years have been among the best ultra endurance riders in the world. They will be competing this time around to win and also to gain points in the UMCA World Cup.
Some of the solo men and women will be on their bikes riding for stints of up to 22 hours straight.
Race Around Ireland founder Alan Heary said the new festival would give the event a renewed focus and high profile.
“We’re really looking forward to returning to Trim where we’ve always gotten a lovely welcome,” he said.
“It’s a vibrant and beautiful town with a wonderful heritage,” he added in reference to the 12th Century Trim Castle.
“It serves as the perfect back drop to send our riders on their way into a challenge that in some ways is a throwback to the arduous endeavours of Norman times.”
David Gorey of Trim Tourism Network said the marriage of the town and the Race Around Ireland was a very welcome development.
“The start of the Race Around Ireland always brings great energy to Trim,” he said.
“This year we’re delighted it will feature on the day of our new Salmon of Knowledge Festival.
“It's set to be a great day with a packed programme of events and activities including our own Boyne Adventure Race using the River Boyne through Trim.
“(We will have) traditional music and dance, drama performances, stalls from Trim and Boyne Valley craftspeople, and entertainment throughout the day.
“We look forward to showing off our vibrant town and all it has to offer to an international audience.”
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