RAS festival in planning

A three-day festival is being planned to mark the 2009 FBD Rás cycle race, which this year will actually start in Kilcullen for the first time. The race itself kicks off on Sunday 17 May.

The festival is being organised by longtime local cycling enthusiast Liam Walker, who wants clubs, pubs and individuals who would like to take part to contact him.

Anybody who might have clippings, films and photographs of previous Rás connections with the town -- as the Rás Tailteann it had a stage finish here in 1965 and a stage start in 1966 -- should also get in touch with Liam, at 087 6441565.

Paddy Flanagan, who worked on the building of the Link Business Park and Kilcullen Town Hall, won the race three times, and there are many other Kilcullen people with cycle racing connections, including Liam Baxter.

Riders in the week-long race will cover 1,289 kilometres and will travel through 15 counties to finish up in Skerries, Co Dublin.