Seven Galway Castles Looped Heritage Cycle Tour

Mayor of Galway City Councilor Terry O'Flaherty and Deputy Mayor Councillor Frank Fahy are shown on their recent visit to Cumann na bhFear (Men's Shed) holding High Nelly bikes that will be used on Sunday's 7 Galway Castles Heritage Cycle Tour. 

On the road to Cloonacauneen Castle

Discover a magical hidden rural side of Galway city by participating in ‘Slí na gCaisleán’ (‘The Way of the Castles’), a heritage cycle tour through a picturesque rural countryside of botharins, farms, meadows, Burren-like rockscapes, bogs, woodlands, lakes, rivers, turloughs and castles.

Ballindooley Lough

Associated also with The Gathering Ireland 2013, this ‘Off the Beaten Track’ Galway Bike Festival event will appeal to city residents and members of the Diaspora alike as it will bring participants back in history, to a time when people travelled by bike, by horse and by foot through a pre-modern landscape.

Spellman's Botharín

The guided leisurely looped cycle tour takes place at 10am on Sunday June 23^rd from Terryland Castle covering a route that encompasses seven castles on the north and eastern side of Galway city and into Galway county castles. 

Menlo Castle

The castles are Terryland, Menlo, Cloonacauneen, Killeen, Ballybrit, Castlegar and Ballindooley.

Cloonacauneen Castle

Members of Cumann na bhFear (aka Men’s Shed), who are organising the event supported by Conservation Volunteers Terryland Forest Park, are lovingly restoring a fleet of High Nelly classic bikes for the tour. 

Carrowbrowne Canal

Participants should bring along their own bicycle, suitable clothing and packed lunch. There will be a stop over at Cloonacauneen Castle where participants can purchase food and beverages. Any children twelve years or under must be accompanied by an adult. All participants must sign a form agreeing to abide by the rules of the tour.

Menlo Pier

To book a place contact Brendan Smith at speediecelt@gmail.com or 0872935106.

Kileen Castle

The Old Bog Road, Carrowbrowne

'Boys of the Old High Nelly Brigade'

 A group of the members of Cumann na bhFear (Men's Shed Galway) cycled from Ballinfoile to Shantalla on Sunday last to participate in the festivities to commemorate the Irish nationalist Daniel O'Connell's famous 'Repeal the Union' (with Britain) monster meeting that took place there in 1843 in front of a crowd estimated at 300,000. 

Sunday's event was a truly remarkable occasion and a tribute to the strong community spirit that still exists in urban neighbourhoods and rural localities across Ireland. We joined other groups ranging from Sea Scouts to school bands in marching through the streets of Shantalla to the foot of the 'Sliding Rock' where thousands were gathered including President Michael D Higgins to hear wonderful actors brilliantly re-enact the speeches that rang out in 1843 over the fields, cottages and spires of Galway demanding independence for Ireland.

The event was held as part of the Gathering 2013 and was prove positive that this Diaspora-orientated initiative has done much to re-vitalize local community festivals across Ireland.
Finally, a fleet of these High Nelly bikes are being readied for the Slí na gCaisleán Heritage Cycle tour that will start at 10.00am from Terryland Castle on June 23rd.

 

Special thanks to Brian MacGabhann for organising the weekly 'High Nelly' repair workshops at Cumann na bhFear.

President Michael D. Higgins returns to the heartland of his former political constituency