The Dornan RÁS Mumhan Cycle Race and its cyclists, teams, officials and spectators are all on their way to Kerry for the annual prestigious event which will again take place at Easter time this year.
The action begins on Good Friday where it will be based in the greater Castleisland area for the day.
For the first time in the race’s seven decade long history it will start in Currow with a team time trial to decide the first yellow jersey wearer of the race.
Teams will be racing against the clock over a fast 8.5km route which will take them from Currow Village to Davy Roche’s Cross and finish on the Scartaglin Road in Castleisland.
Classification Jerseys
Teams will depart at two minute intervals with the first team off just after noon.
The riders then, after a short break, will be assembling at An Ríocht Athletic Club Pavilion at 3.45pm. After the presentations of the classification jerseys the race will then proceed down and up the town again for a ceremonial start with the racing to begin once the cyclists leave the town at 4pm.
The race will take them over the Black Banks to Brosna, turning left at the foot of the village, left onto the Cork line and left at Feales Bridge.
Five Circuits in Knocknagoshel
The race will then head towards Knocknagoshel where there will be five circuits of the Headley’s Bridge and O’Leary’s Cross circuit. At the end of the five laps the race will turn right up through the hill on Main Street Knocknagoshel finishing at the highest point of the village at the local community centre.
The finish time is expected to be around 5.30pm where the riders will have covered 71km on this stage.
The race has attracted a full field of entries with a strong Irish contingent along with riders from the Isle of Man, Britain, Netherlands, Spain, USA, New Zealand and Australia. There may be others also at the start line as teams finalise their selections in advance of the four day five stage race.
The organisers wish to thank the great sponsorship that the Dornan Group has provided in order for this premier cycling event to go ahead.
2022 Winner Back
Amongst the favourites for the Dornan RÁS Mumhan this year would be Lindsey Watson who won the race in 2022. He is back this year with the Inspired Cycling Team based in Co Derry. Last year’s winner Finn Crockett will not be on the start line as he has moved onto the top professional ranks – to which winning this race last year would have contributed. Ben Healy who is excelling now on the world tour cycling events is also a previous winner of the race.
The 2022 RÁS Tailteann winner Daire Feeley from Co Roscommon is on the start list and makes no secret of the fact he would like to add this race to his impressive list of wins which also includes the John Drumm Cup in 2022.
Drumm Cup Winner
Conn McDunphy who won the national series in 2023 including the Drumm Cup has since signed for the US Based Skyline – Cadence Team and then team is taking on the Dornan RÁS Mumhan as part of their European schedule.
Dean Harvey is no stranger to this race having lost out controversially last year on the last stage. He is back with a view to winning along with his fully professional Trinity Racing Squad who will undoubtedly be serious contenders for the title.
The Isle of Man always bring their best riders here as do the Foran Construction team, a London Irish based squad which took two stage wins last year.
Sought After Talent
Team Ireland has a young man in their squad called Seth Dunwoody who is already an accomplished and sought after talent around Europe despite him being only 18 years of age this year.
The Killarney Cycling Club has not only a senior team in the race but also an U-23 squad. Other Kerry riders will feature once the start list is announced after all the teams make their selections. The action begins on Good Friday in Currow and after a break in Castleisland will culminate in Knocknagoshel in the evening.
As Quiet as Knocknagoshel….
The words of our famous and remembered Con Houlihan when he was reporting on the Kerry Dublin final of 1975 ‘Hill 16 was as quiet as Knocknagoshel on a Good Friday’ will certainly not apply this year as the peloton and cavalcade arrive in a frenzy of excitement to see who will be the first overnight leader of the Dornan RAS Mumhan for 2024.
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