What’s This All About?
Once described by William Bulfin as “a gem in the basin of the Nore” the chosen route for our 2019 event will begin and end in the beautiful village of Durrow, in Co Laois.
Over the course of our two day event, our journey will take us deep into our medieval past.
On day one, after breakfast and assembly at Aylward’s Rural Heritage Museum, we head for the 6th century Aghaboe Abbey, via Abbeyleix De Vesci Estate and St. Fintan’s Church at Cremogue.
We will learn of St. Fergal and St. Canice, of their connection with Laois, and the intriguing story of St. Canice’s departure to Co. Kilkenny.
Day Two will see us cycle to the Marble City, via Lisdowney and Freshford. to visit the Cathedral, named in Canice’s honour.
After meeting up with Kilkenny High Nelly Club, The Flying Column, we will also take in visits to Kilkenny Castle, and the Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny.
Our wonderful hosts will then treat us to some food and music, in the Home Rule Club. We will then board our bus back to Durrow, where our event’s “Final Handshakes” will commence in Bob’s Museum Bar, with lots more music & craic.
This enticing all-round Heritage Cycle is accessible to all, without any major difficulties. It is ideal for cyclists who want to discover roads less travelled, and histories less told, whilst journeying through the rolling green countryside on vintage bikes.
This year we are also providing the option for non-cyclists to join us, on our Heritage Bus, which will travel the very same route as our bicycles!
New to this year’s event – Travel by Bus!
Would you like to join us on this year’s Bulfin Heritage Cycle, but don’t particularly fancy cycling.
Then why not join us and travel by bus?!!!
This year for the very first time we are offering people who don’t want to, or simply cannot cycle, for whatever reason (and we won’t ask) the chance to join us, by availing of a ticket for our Heritage Bus!
The Bulfin Cycle is about so much more than bicycles, with history, heritage, tours, reenactments, pageants, heritage talks, music, song, food and good old fashioned craic, all on the agenda!
So we thought, “why should people miss out on exploring their history and heritage, just because they don’t ride a bike?”
The answer to that hit us like a double decker bus! “A bus!”
So please do come along, leave it all behind for two wonderful days in August, when we step back in time, and discover our hidden heritage!
Check out this year’s itinerary below! To purchase a ticket, simply select the
Heritage Bus option!
Day 1 – Saturday, August 24
11am: Assembly at Aylward’s Rural Heritage Museum
- The Full Irish “Bulfin” Breakfast! Narration from William Bulfin’s book; “Rambles in Eirinn”
- Cycle to Aghaboe Abbey – via Coleman’s Road
12:30pm Visit De Vesci Estate, Abbeyleix (By kind permission)
Heritage Talk: ‘The Abbey of Abbeyleix’, at the Monk’s Bridge
2pm: Cremogue Church of St. Fintan
Heritage Talk and Sample a Monk’s Austerity Meal
St. Fintan’s Well
- An Irish Country Picnic
- Sample a Monk’s Indulgence
- Making Merry with Traditional Mead
4pm: Aghaboe Abbey – A Celebration of our Monks – Saint’s Fergal and Canice
- Monastic Trials and Tribulations – Heritage Talk
- St Canice: Telling the Story of the Two Coffins – Pageant/Folklore
- St. Fergal: Narration from William Bulfin’s book – Rambles in Eirinn & The Austrian connection “
In Days of Old” An Irish “Pattern” Day
- Rustic Merriment with Music, Song & Dance
- Food & Refreshments served
- St Canice Commemoration Trail – A Pilgrim Path
6pm: Clough
The Land League Priest – local history/storytelling Narration from William Bulfin’s book – “Rambles in Eirinn” Light Refreshments served
8pm: Bob’s Museum Bar Durrow
- BBQ, Music & The Ancient Pastime of Skittles
- Overnight in Durrow – Camping facilities at The Harps GAA Centre Option to upgrade to local B&B Day 1 Trail – 38K approx
- Option to upgrade to local B&B
Day 2 – Sunday, August 25
9:30am: Durrow
A Full Irish Bulfin Breakfast at The Harps GAA Centre
10.30am: Assembly
Followed by a Heritage Talk: ‘Durrow in County Kilkenny’
11am: Durrow to Kilkenny
- St. Canice’s Commemoration Trail – A Pilgrim Path
- Cycle to St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, via An Béalach Mór Taisteál: (“Up the Hill” transport available)
- Lisdowney: Heritage Talk
- Freshford – St Lachtain: Heritage talk , and Light Refreshments
- A Conker Match: An Exhibition of an Ancient Pastime
2pm: Granges Road, Kilkenny
- Meeting with our Kilkenny Hosts, The First Battalion Kilkenny (High Nelly Bicycle Club) Heritage Cycle around Kilkenny – Including:
- Tour & Heritage Talk at St Canice’s Cathedral
- Kilkenny Castle & The Kilkenny Medieval Mile Heritage Museum
5pm: Celebration Meal
Food & Music at Home Rule Club Kilkenny
8pm: Homeward Bound
- An extract from William Bullion’s Book, Rambles In Eirinn
- Bus to Durrow (including bike transport)
9pm: Bulfin Event 2019 “Final Handshakes”
- Music & Craic at Bob’s Museum Bar, Durrow as the Bulfin Heritage Cycle Rally 2019, concludes with our event’s Final Handshakes!
Day 2 Trail – 32K approx
SEE ALSO – The Bulfin Heritage Cycle Rally: Meandering Monks & Medieval Miles!
