Don’t Miss the FBD Rás!
Sunday May 28th when the FBD Rás International cycling Race comes to Skerries promises to be a fun-filled exciting spectacle.
The whole town will be able to join in the festivities on the last Sunday in May when Skerries people can witness –live in our town - the nailbiting final moments as 150 world class racing cyclists compete to be first across the finishing line on Strand Street. The pre-Rás celebrations will have you bopping to the sounds of the DJ, admiring the talented dancers in Dance Dimensions, or maybe just soaking up the atmosphere of a town that’s been transformed by the festive atmosphere.
The organisers are busy putting together the finishing touches to a programme of festivities which includes music, entertainment and of course the race itself.
The fun begins on Strand Street at 1 pm.
The Race
Skerries was lucky to be selected as the host town to Ireland’s biggest cycling race - the FBD Rás. Like the Tour de France, top international teams will compete over a period of several gruelling days with a dramatic finish planned in Skerries. The 200 riders will have been cycling for eight days when they come to Skerries, having cycled 150km from Clara that morning alone. They will speed through Strand Street, down to the monument, along Balbriggan Road and up to a gruelling climb at Black Hills near Ardgillan. From there the cyclists pass through Killalane, Loughbarn, Balcunnin,Baldongan and Milverton and back to Skerries for the second time. Another lap of the above circuit brings them into Skerries for the third and final time for the finish. Expect the pack or ‘peloton’ of cyclists to keep pretty close together until the final sprint for the finish. The finish line itself will be located at the Citizens Information Centre.
The Yellow jersey goes to the race winner with the lowest overall race time over all stages. The Green jersey goes to the most consistent rider with the highest number of points which are awarded on the basis of finishing positions to each stage. The King of the Mountains jersey is a polka dot and is awarded to the rider with the best hill-climbing performance over the race.
But the day is not just about the race itself……..A mini carnival on Strand Street with entertainment for all ages has been organised!
Larger than Life Puppetry
Bui Bolg, who travel the world with their unique brand of giant sized puppets and street performances are a sight not to be missed! (www.buibolg.com)
Major Art Installation:
The monument is to be decorated with a giant goat’s head formed from a saddle shape for a head and handlebar horns. Streamers will cascade down top to bottom and a series of colour co-ordinated bike wheel sized discs will run around the base. This specially commissioned artwork celebrating the Rás finishing in Skerries is being created by local artist Rosaleen Roche. Alison Macduff of the SCA and Rosaleen are co-coordinating the production of additional artwork to decorate Strand Street. This will involve the production of a series of decorated wheel sized discs by first and second year art students from Skerries Community College.
Cycling Skills Demonstration
This will showcase newly acquired skills with then help of the Cycling Safety & Skills School. (www.cyclingsafetyschool.com) The participants will be 5th class students from the local primary schools.
Dance Performance
Dance Dimensions will provide their own exciting high energy hip hop dance performance
Music and Play
Gymboree to provide entertainment for the little ones. (www.playandmusic.ie)
DJ
If that’s not enough a DJ will keep everybody moving to the beat.
TV Coverage
The event will be televised by RTE with the highlights to be broadcast afterwards.
Traffic and other arrangements
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Rolling road closures will take place as the peloton travels around the course. More details of this will be available nearer the time. |
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A section of Strand Street from the Church to Kingstons Hardware will be closed to traffic between 1:00pm and 3:00pm |
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The Skerries Mills car park will be used for the riders and their support vehicles after the race. It will be closed to the public from 1 pm until about 4.30. |
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The Rugby Club will be used by the competitors for changing |
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Holmpatrick National School will be used as an administrative and medical centre on the day. |
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An after event dinner is being held at the Golf Club (By invitation only. |
Sponsorship Opportunities
There are still sponsorship opportunities left. Contact Greg Reddin on 8491275.
Times and Further Information
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Festival events between 1:00pm and 2:15 |
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Race expected to arrive around 2:30pm for first of three passes through the town. |
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Each of the 2 laps of the Skerries area circuit will take around 20 minutes. |
The festival and stage end are being co-ordinated by the Skerries Rás Stage end committee. This committee is comprised of representatives from various community groups. Pat Halpin and Paul Deans of Swords Cycling Club, Brendan Ryan Skerries Community Centre Board of Management, Andy Tolan of Skerries Tourism, Greg Reddin of Skerries Chamber of Commerce, Michael Johnston and Jane Landy of Skerries Community Association SCA.
For local information about the event: www.skerriesfbdras.com
For details further details on the race:
Check out www.fbdras.com
For up-to-the-minute info on what’s on where, log onto www.skerriesca.com and register for email newsflashes. This service is provided free of charge by Skerries Community Association.
A calendar of up coming local events is also on this website. |
