Dornan Rás Mumhan gets underway on Good Friday with a split stage; the Currow to Castleisland 8.6km team time trial in the afternoon followed by an evening road race stage of some 67.6km from Castleisland to Knocknagoshel; the first of four days of action.
There is a very strong field assembled and whoever wins the 2025 title is going to have to be strong and willing to race hard all the way into Killorglin on Monday. But what Irish riders look most likely to race to stage and overall honours? Which Irish juniors might make a major breakthrough? And who are the overseas visitors mostly likely to win big?
Matthew Walls (17) Cycling Leinster Junior | A number of juniors have been impressive this year, but Walls looks like the surprise package. Relatively new to road racing, he has already won this season - at the Lucan GP - as well as mixing it multiple times at the point end with the C1s. He took 6th at Troféu José Poeira in Portugal this month and looks set to be one of the breakthrough riders of the season, with nothing to lose in Kerry.
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Conal Scully (21), Dan Morrissey Pissei | The winner of the Bobby Power Memorial this year, and 2nd at the Des Hanlon Memorial, Scully has always had lots of potential. He looks like he is converting that into big results this year and could really impress this weekend.
Liam Crowley (23), Munster Dornan | Last year Crowley was riding for UCD Cycling Club and made the opening road stage breakaway in Kerry; just one very strong performance in what became a breakthrough season. He has since signed for Austrian Continental outfit, Team Vorarlberg, and with a big winter - and recent international racing - in his legs, he can step up.
Mitchell McLaughlin (27), Spellman Dublin Port | McLaughlin has progressed year-on-year in recent seasons and has enjoyed a very strong start to the 2025 domestic campaign, including four podium places; a win in the Annaclone GP among them. He is definitely a contender for a stage win this weekend, maybe more.
Ruairí Byrne (21), UCD Cycling Club | One of the riders of the season so far, Byrne has won the Des Hanlon Memorial and the Seamus Kennedy Memorial and will be one to watch this weekend for both stage and overall honours. The UCD team is a very strong group, with no passengers. Also in the line-up are Jason Kenny, Eoin Kelly, Milo Donaldson and Patrick O'Sullivan. While Byrne is the pointy end of this spear, it is a group that really needs to expect a lot of itself this weekend.
Daire Feeley (28), Burren Cycling Club | Already with three wins under his belt this year - the Mick Lally, Sliabh Luachra Clasaici and Lucan GP - Feeley won stage 2 last year in Kerry, on his way to 6th overall. Few would bet against him making his mark again this weekend.
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Odhran Doogan (21), Caldwell Cycles | Doogan started the season very strongly, with a win at the John Haldane Memorial, and has been consistent every since. He has gone close several times to stage wins at both Rás Tailteann and Rás Mumhan; 2nd on the final stage in the latter last year included. He has the staying power in stage races, and the finishing kick, to make a step forward and take a win this year. He is also in a team with Darnell Moore and former GC winner Lindsay Watson, either of whom could also win big this weekend - Watson in particular in good form of late. And they are joined by French-based Curtis Neill and Travis Harkness, either of whom could also make a mark and complete a very strong team line-up
Patrick O'Loughlin (20), Munster Dornan | O'Loughlin had taken three 3rd places this year before finally topping the podium last weekend, at Greenmount Cycling Academy's Kilteely GP. Like Doogan, he can cope with hard racing and has an impressive finishing kick. If he gets a clear run at a finish line, in a group sprinting for a win, this weekend he'll back himself.
Luke Smith (26), Moynalty Cycling Club | Yet to take a win this season, Smith has been in the mix in major races from one end of the season to the other for several years now. His 3rd overall, and 3rd on the final stage, at Rás Mhaigh Eo is arguably his best ride of the season to date. With a bit of luck, he could open his 2025 account this weekend.
Velo Performance | Comprised of a group of first-year U23 riders, it takes on its first proper team assignment on home roads this weekend. It will be interesting to see how they perform, especially as they have already taken in a series of UCI races in Greece. Willem O'Connor was 3rd in the Kilteely GP last weekend and was very consistent at Rás Mhaigh Eo last month on his way to 6th overall. Michael Collins won a stage at the Junior Tour of Ireland last year, and will want to make his mark this weekend, while Eoghan Lattimore went close at 'The JT' last season and will want to impress in Kerry.
Dom Jackson (27), Foran CC | Jackson won Rás Tailteann last year, after finishing 2nd at Rás Mumhan, and is capable of winning the overall in Kerry this weekend, and taking stage honours along the way.
George Kimber (25), Spirit Racing Team | Kimber won stage 1b in Kerry last year. Having won the National Road Series in Britain last season, and already taken two wins this year, he is a very strong rider currently in great form.
Will Truelove (23), Halesowen Academy-Mapei | Having finished 3rd overall at The Peaks Two Day last month, he is one to watch.
Tom Martin (26), Spellman Dublin Port | A winner of a stage at Rás Tailteann last year, when he was 3rd overall at Rás Mumhan, he could really impress in Kerry.
Irish Juniors | Rás Mumhan is the type of race where a strong junior can emerge and announce himself. Some of those lining up this year are in their first year as juniors, while others will be juggling exams with their cycling - all of which makes it hard to assess where they are so early in the season. But, on the basis of the evidence so far, those who could get into the mix include: Jack Woods, Fionn Killeen, Darragh Byrne (all Leinster), Adam Matthews, Curtis McKee, Toby Sweetman, James Armstrong (all Cycling Ulster) and Hugh Óg Mulhearne (Munster Junior Spin 11).
