|
|
|
Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 20:02:17 |
Enniscorthy Celebrates Tour Visit 10 years on.
By Liam Ruth, Words and Pictures
Jul 2, 2008,
|
Email this article
|
10 years since Enniscorthy, Co Wexford became one of the smallest towns ever to host a stage start of the Tour de France, the local council has celebrated the event by unveiling a magnificent bronze sculpture of a racing cyclist at the historic Duffry Gate. The site of the tour sign on village in July 1998 was thronged again last Saturday evening as 4 times green jersey winner and former world no 1 cyclist Sean Kelly unveiled the statue.
 |
| Sean Kelly at the unveiling cermony for the new sculpture |
Town and County chairmen spoke briefly before Sean Kelly took the microphone to express his pleasure that the events of 1998 were being remembered and recalled his memories of the day. The over life size sculpture was created by artist Mark Rode, a native of Brisbane, Australia, but now living in Foxford, Co Mayo. Mark spent many weeks sketching and studying a local A cat rider to ensure the proportions and detail are so lifelike.
The unveiling was the first of several cycling related events in the town on Friday evening. Working closely with the council over many months Slaney Cycling Club were determined that such an important event in the town’s history be remembered. To commemorate the event, cycling became the centre point to the opening ceremonies of the towns annual Strawberry Festival.
 |
| Sean Kelly and Mark Rode, the sculpture artist. |
The club held a 40km road race, very generously sponsored by Ellen Construction, which started at the Duffry Gate before returning to an exciting town centre finish where a large crowd had gathered. To make the event even more special for the club the winner was none other than local rider Murt Doyle who finished on his own, 40secs ahead of Bray wheelers Mark Driver, and he received a rousing welcome by the home crowd. Sean Kelly then presented the winners prizes on the main festival stage.
While the race was in progress the club held their, by now, annual children’s mini tour de France races on the towns market square. Open to children under 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old the events proved as competitive as ever with bikes and trikes sprinting for victory!
 |
| Murt Doyle (Slaney CC) takes the victory |
The final part of the towns celebrations take place next Saturday when Slaney CC rerun the stage from Enniscorthy to Cork with a leisure event covering the original route. Stopping for lunch in Sean Kelly’s home town of Carrick on Suir, the event won’t be as competitive as the tour stage but it will be a challenging achievement for all the riders. To add to the events importance all proceeds will go to a very deserving cause, HOPE, an Enniscorthy based cancer care group.
At the event launch in January an email from renowned cycling commentator Phil Liggett was read expressing his support for the event and his great memories of that sunny day in July 1998. “The ride out of Enniscorthy was made memorable by the huge crowds and the Pike men lining the roads. It will always stay with me”, he added. The pre event sign on takes place at the National 1798 centre in Enniscorthy on Friday evening at 7.30pm, with the first riders leaving Bellefield GAA club at 7.45am on Saturday morning.
|
|
|
|
