32-IRELAND-32

Richard Walsh, the cyclist is also co-ordinator of the Abbey India Project, which organises Abbey students to work in Providence School over a number of weeks every second year. Providence is a school for very underprivileged children who for financial reasons cannot afford to go even to free schools.

On Saturday June 24, 2006 (in Summer sunshine, hopefully) an unusual cycling circuit of the island of Ireland starts in front of the Abbey School in Tipperary town at 3.20 pm. The circuit will trace its way seamlessly through all 32 counties and will involve at least 32 kilometers within the confines of each (no short cuts).
The complete trip will finish on the following Monday week back in Tipperary at 3.20 pm.
Total Distance: 1400km Daily average distance: 140+ km

The first day is a Prologue – a 40 km sponsored cycle by a group of 32 cyclists – from Tipperary through Bansha, Cahir and on through Clonmel to Ballypatrick. This is an opportunity for local cyclists to take part in this innovative event
Why?
To cycle in itself is a pleasure, but extra fulfilling to feel that in doing so will be of assistance to the children in Providence: to Skembhor in his classwork, to Hamhi as he works in the cooking part of the vocational programme, to Leeban arriving smiling every morning after his 1 hour walk to school, to Alisha as she makes progress with her Maths and so on with all 106 children who are being given a ray of hope।

Route
24 June Tipperary-Clonmel (Prologue)
25 June Clonmel-Carlow
26 June Carlow- Castleknock
27 June Castleknock – Castleblayney।
28 June Castleblayney – Magherafelt
29 June Magherafelt – Beleek
30 June Beleek – Castlerea
1 July Castlerea - Loughrea
2 July Loughrea – Abbeyfeale
3 July Abbeyfeale – Tipperary