Sean Kelly Tour 2011 - Just Around the Corner

Well the time is nearly upon us all again when cyclists (and meself) take to the saddle for the 2011 Sean Kelly Tour an event now pulling over 5,000 competitors from all over Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Starting here in the heart of Dungarvan and taking in in three routes of varying difficulty (namely 50k - 90k - and the 150k) this years date is Sunday August 28 2011 so not long left for turning those pedals like ninety in the final preparations.

Having taken part in the past two events I can vouch for how well organised an event this is and the words received from other entrants will truly back this up, from start to finish and along the beautifully scenic route you are looked after superbly with refreshments abundantly supplied by sponsors and locals alike and by the back up vehicles that can provide you with a new tyre in the unfortunate event of a blowout. Yes hand up, twas I the baldy tyre guy, who ventured out around 10k with a threatening bulge (in the tyre thread!) before it literally all blew up in my face. Thanks again to the spritely elderly lady who sped past my forlorn location passing on the supportive words "You having a rest already?"

That was on the 50k, and this year I may step it up and try to conquer the Kelly Coast 90k, hoping that both my legs and aged mountain bike are up to the challenge, though the spare tube is already in place if i'm in for a repeat, and a pillow for my sore behind will be placed in the fridge. Below is the route; (click to enlarge)


God Help Us.

So only four weeks training left to get in and be in reasonable shape for the challenge. And Mrs "having a rest", I'll be looking out for you, lol!

The Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford

A 10k Family Cycle is being held the previous day Saturday 27 August around Dungarvan, Abbeyside, Clonea and the Gold Coast so get the whole crew out for a spin you won't regret it!

The Kelly Ten - 10k Family Cycle

Video from VisitWaterford.

And last but certainly not least, a simple word to all the volunteers involved in this event......Thanks!

Slainte Mhaith

Can't Hit the Beach.....? Hit the Past!!

Kilgreany Cave :: Prehistoric Waterford

The summer weather has, as yet, decided to delay it's arrival around the Dungarvan coastline so if the beach is not offering it's usual temptations, visitors and locals alike may look to other pastimes to occupy themselves.

The Prehistoric Waterford website I stumbled upon offers a fascinating insight into the County's past and details a number of historical monuments and landmarks that can be added to any "to do" list especially for when the weather may be a little inclement, and of course the bonus is that they are all free.

As stated in the report a human skeleton found here was dated older than 9,000 B.C which would make it from the Stone Ages (or Keith Richards), when Clubs did not have flashing lights and copious amounts of body hair were a pre-requisite. I would imagine the rent on the place was fairly reasonable as well.

So as we keep the bucket and spade on standby why not take in some of the more unusual sights around us, it's educational, cheap and the cave would provide shelter from any of the wet stuff.

This particular site is practically part of farmland so it is advised you ask the landowners for permission before you venture into this prime real estate of our past. Many other monuments with maps, photos and directions are available on the site just click the link above or here.

Dungarvan - "An Ungrateful Town" - An Ungraceful Politician - A Baffling Article

Outgoing TD Labels Dungarvan as "Ungrateful Town"

Whilst I wipe the tears away from my eyes after reading the above Irish Times article about an outgoing local TD (assumed as who it is never quite spelt out for us ;o ) I feel the need to suspend any sarcasm or cheap shots at what is possibly the easiest of targets, the losing team. Which is what it is, not an individual cast aside by his followers, (sounds like some Twitter accounts) and someone easily forgotten by the march of progress or social revolution! Ok the sarcasm is back a little.

The article puts across well the difficulties that transition can place on a person, and in whatever line of life, hopefully a tight social and family environment will be able to support them through these challenges.  However I can't really find the angle here, a cousin of X who states that the meeting between the two was hardly welcomed then proceeds to spill the beans of the Election meltdown and emotional earthquake of heavy defeat upon our candidate to the national press, who willingly oblige. Transition is something the Nation and everybody within it is experiencing right now and the only fact that I garnered from this piece is the rank stench of bitterness towards those that had provided X with a position of public authority within Dungarvan's midst "an ungrateful town....." which he wouldn't be visiting "anytime soon".  Jeysus, we are told there was a bridge near the pub where this discussion took place and it seems someone needs to build one himself fairly quick and get over it! For my part I was amazed X polled at 7,515 first preferences in the first place due to the nature of the political and financial environment, but his cousin steps in to remind him "to go from 23,025 first preferences in 2007 to 7,515 first preferences in 2011 is "some feat of electoral incompetence" with friends like these eh? Maybe he is now a somewhat "removed" cousin!

The Ungrateful (Celtic?) Tiger from Raymond Grady on Vimeo.

I began to think that this wasn't the Irish Times but a satirical piece for The Phoenix when Mrs X put forward her idea of taking 2% out of every workers paypack and re-establishing the double payment at Christmas to encourage spending, the more I think of it it's hilarious and Phoenix would do well to better this, though the drink and emotions that were now flowing may be partly to thank for these pearls of political wisdom.

X may be right when he says the next three years will be hell and that his outgoing party are best out of it, and Mrs X correct when she prompts him to be supportive of the incoming government, as I hope all the people of Dungarvan are and by doing so push some positivity back into the country, but this article from Thomas McCarthy ultimately left me feeling in agreement with X's parting shot,

"We're Better Off!"

Yours

Not Vincent Browne

Slainte Mhath

Updated after Link to Article changed to the Irish Times subscription page. Now corrected.

A Famous Irish Victory At The Clash Of The.............Willow?

15th Match, Group B: England v Ireland at Bangalore, Mar 2, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Above is the link for the final scorecard from the historic Cricket World Cup win by the boys in green with willow not ash in their hands.

It's not a sport followed en masse here in Waterford though I am aware of a few hardcore supporters for who this result will stay implanted in their memory forever. There is also a Lismore Cricket Club for any one who may be interested in having a bash.

For following the event if you wish to keep up to date as a newly converted fan then ESPNCRICINFO is really quite hard to beat with hard working staff updating you by text on each and every ball. It's where I will be on Sunday (Ireland v India) and is now my safest bet for any involvement in the game having fractured my skull whilst aspiring to be a player such as Kevin O'Brien many moons ago. A great day for many Irish sports followers with Celtic winning their cup game against Rangers in a really "friendly" atmosphere, a few helmets wouldn't go amiss in future fixtures between these two methinks!!

Slainte Mhath