Dates, locations for main events of Irish road and track seasons 2023

*Dates and locations for some of the main events of the Irish road and track seasons 2023 have now been set, with the first two months of the road racing season in detail (Photo: Sean Rowe)*

Dates and venues for many of the main road and track events of 2023 have emerged, with Cycling Ireland setting out a schedule for the coming season. While the events that make up the National Road Series have not been set out by the national governing body, stickybottle has pieced them together, and listed them out below.

However, there is still no fixed and confirmed venue for the National Road Championships for juniors, U23s and seniors in June. But what is clear at this early stage is the first couple of months of racing and, at least, the dates of the main fixtures of the road and track and seasons. Rás Tailteann is also due to take place from May 17th to 21st, though it is not yet officially fixed in the calendar on any dates.

The 2023 road race season will begin on Saturday March 4th with races in Leinster and Ulster - the Dublin Wheelers Mick Lally Memorial and the Travers Engineering Annaclone GP, promoted by Banbridge Cycling Club. The action continues the following day with a busy schedule of three events; the Lacey Cup by Tralee Manor West BC, the Phoenix GP promoted by Belfast's Phoenix CC and the Seamus Kennedy Memorial in Co Meath promoted by Navan Road Club.

The following weekend, Rás Naomh Finian - in Kinnegad, Co Westmeath, and promoted by Clonard CC - is the sole race scheduled at present for Saturday March 11th. This is followed by two events the following day; the John Haldane Memorial, by Newry Wheelers, and the Life Credit Union Newbridge GP by Newbridge CC.

The third weekend of racing is the St Patrick's Day weekend with the Bobby Power Memorial by Carrick Wheelers on St Patrick's Day, March 17th, followed by the Tour of Ards, by Ards CC, on Saturday 18th and the Boyne GP by Drogheda Wheelers on March 19th.

The following weekend - March 25th and 26th - sees the East Tyrone GP by East Tyrone CC take place on the Saturday and two races the next day; the Castlebar GP by Castlebar Cycling Club and the Donal Crowley Memorial by Blarney Cycling Club - the latter the first round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series (see details of all rounds below).

The second round of the National Road Series takes place a week later, on Sunday, April 2nd, with the Des Hanlon Memorial promoted by Carlow RCC, while the PJ Logan Memorial is on the same day in Ulster, promoted by Island Wheelers. And 24 hours before those two events - on Saturday April 1st - Killinchy CC holds its Killinchy CC GP.

The next weekend is the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, with the Gorey Three Day and Kerry Group Rás Mumhan set to unfold on the roads of counties Wexford and Kerry respectively. While the Tour of the North is again missing, having been cancelled last year, just three weeks later the Victus Tour of Ulster will take place, from April 29th to March 1st, the same weekend as the O'Leary Stone Kanturk Three Day in Co Cork.

National Championships 2023

Road

The dates of national titles that will be fought out on the road junior, U23, elite and Masters have been published though the locations of those of championships have yet to be confirmed. Neither the date nor location of the eRacing National Championships are confirmed, though Cycling Ireland has said those championships will be held again in 2023.

22.06.2023 Junior, U23, Elite men and women Time Trial
24/25.06.2023 Senior & U23 Men, Senior Women, Junior Men & Women
05.07.2023 Criterium
31.08.2023 Masters Men and Women Time Trial
03.09.2023 Masters Men and Women & A3 Road Race
19/20.08.2023 Youth Road
09.10.2023 Hill Climb

Off-Road

The dates of the main off-road national titles are below, though the location of only one National Championships, cyclocross, has been confirmed – the McCrystal Park in Bellurgan, Co Louth