Treat yourself to a taste of culture with this year’s Bulfin Cycle run on Friday August 24 and Saturday 25.
Running since 2014, the High Nellie cycle starts and ends in Durrow and will take in a number of heritage sites such as Cast Durrow, Heywood Gardens, Timahoe Round Tower & Heritage Centre, the Rock of Dunamase and Abbeyleix Heritage House.
Their cycle is divided over two days, with an average daily distance of approximately 40 kilometres at a relaxed pace.
This year the event – where participants where traditional periodic dress – aims to delve even deeper into the history of County Laois.
Banished by English forces
On the second day of the Rally, they are highlighting the story of the Seven Septs of Laois, who were banished to county Kerry by English forces in 1601.
Under sentence of death should they ever return, many of their descendants reside in Kerry to this very day. The Bulfin Cycle run feel that the return of the Septs is long overdue, and plan to bring them home on August 25, albeit symbolically.
Seven torches, each representing one of the families, will arrive at the Rock of Dunamase, having travelled from Kerry, and carried by the Tarbert Historical Society. These torches will then be used to light a Ceremonial Sept Vessel, at Dunamase, the former stronghold of the O’More sept.
William Bulfin was a journalist, travel writer and proud Irish Nationalist. Having returned from Argentina in 1902, he set off on a journey that took him through the highways and byways of Ireland on a steel framed bicycle.
‘Rambles In Eirinn’ is the insightful book written by William Bulfin, about that cycling experience, and each captivating page tells a story of Ireland’s ancient past. The travelogue was published in 1907 and proved to be a resounding success, extending to a fourth edition, published in 1915.
30Hugh Sheppard of Durrow’s Vintage Legend Cycle Club spoke about the forthcoming event. “In previous years, we plotted the route to actually follow sections of Bulfin’s journey, according to his book. This year our travels will be confined to Co. Laois, which of course he did travel through, but our route is mapped out to incorporate visits to important heritage sites along the way.”
Hugh was keen to highlight that all cycling is at a very relaxed pace, punctuated with many breaks, as each heritage site is arrived upon. “Ours is not an endurance cycle, but one of appreciation. ‘Heritage on a High Nellie’, we like to say.”
This two-day event costs €120 which covers all your food, entertainment, pageants and camping on the Friday night. A limited number of day tickets are available. From past cycles, the immersive experience cannot be underestimated in terms of entertainment, comradery, heritage, good food and sheer craic.
So if history and heritage is your thing, perhaps it’s time to dig out that old vintage bike, and hit the road with the Bulfin Heritage Cycle Rally, on Friday August 24 and Saturday 25, 2018.
More information can be found on our website here.
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