Monaghan Sports Partnership On behalf of Monaghan County Council Report on National Bikeweek 2015
Report for Department of Tourism Transports & Sport in relation to National Bike Week 2015 National Bike Week events in Monaghan Monaghan Sports Partnership, on behalf of Monaghan County Council, was tasked with coordinating and delivered a variety of cycling events for 2015 National Bikeweek in County Monaghan. The Sports Partnership invited Community groups / cycling clubs / organisations etc to make an expression of interest for a particular event to take place in their local area. We received a number of applications and based our funding application to Department of Tourism, Transport & Sports on these. When the funding allocation was awarded, we set about compiling a programme of activity which incorporated leisurely cycles, bike training, competitions and bike fixing. National Bikeweek was launched by Mayor of County Monaghan, Cllr. Padriag Mc Nally. Our dedicated Bikeweek facebook page banner heading Launch of National Bikeweek by Mayor of County Monaghan, Cllr. Padraig Mc Nally
Design a bookmark for bikeweek 2015! Monaghan Sports Partnership and the County Library Service collaborated on an art competition for Primary School Students to celebrate the National Bikeweek 2015. The competition centred on designing a bookmark which encapsulated the theme, Cycling is for Everyone. Over 1,000 entries were received to the five Town library branches as winners and runners up were selected in two categories; Junior (3 rd & 4 th Class) and Senior (5 th & 6 th Class)with 30 prize-winners in total receiving bike goodies and book vouchers. The winners in each category were then re-judged and two overall winners for the County were chosen and each won a bicycle worth 150! The winning entries at each Library Branch were all printed as bookmarks and are available from local libraries throughout the Summer and while stocks last! The bookmarks are very popular with young people and provide a ongoing reminder after Bikeweek with the message that cycling is for everyone.
A selection of entries from Design a bookmark for bikeweek competition Design a bookmark winners at Monaghan Town Branch Library
Design a bookmark winners and runners up at Ballybay Branch Library High Nelly Refurbishment The Inniskeen Enterprise Development group hosted a High Nelly Refurbishment workshop where lots of tinkering and repairing saw these old bikes restored to their former glory to get back on the road again and enthusiasts were given some expert guidance and tuition on repair some of previously repaired bikes and those being upgraded during this event were also used during the Patrick Kavanagh Festival as locals reminisced and celebrated Kavanagh s works during this annual festival. The bicycles go by in twos and threes; there s a dance in Billy Brennan Barn tonight High Nelly refurbishment at Inniskeen Round Tower
Patsy s Cycling memorabilia The launch of Patsy's Cycling Memorabilia museum in Tydavnet was a thrilling success and lots of cycling enthusiasts called to see the vast collection of cycling artefacts collected over decades of passion for the sport long serving member of Emyvale Cycling club and local cycling enthusiast, Patsy Brady. And to add to this event, friends of Patsy organised a surprise visit on the eve of the launch by none other than Irish Cycling legend, Sean Kelly! Over 100 people visited the simple shed-museum during Bikeweek. Cycling memorabilia on display Cycling Jerseys from all over the world
Members of Emyvale Cycling Club visit the cycling museum Primary Schools safe cycle training and School cycles Local Primary Schools took part in 'safe cycle' training during the week, while the pupils of St. Mary's Boys NS and St. Louis Girls NS. in Monaghan Town enjoyed a cycle along the Greenway to Rossmore Park, making use of a relatively recently developed amenity for cycling. Pupils of St. Marys Boys School, Monaghan taking part in Bikeweek Cycle along the Greenway
Pupils of St. Louis Girls School in Monaghan taking part in Bikeweek Cycle along the Greenway Pupils of St. Louis Girls School in Monaghan taking part in Bikeweek Cycle along the Greenway
Other Primary School cycles also took place in Ballybay as the pupils enjoyed some time out of class as they took a spin around Ballybay taking in the Town Park, Ballybay Pearse Bros.GAA grounds and the main street of the Town. Community Garda Frances Merrick visited a number of Schools in the wider Castleblayney / Ballybay / Rockcorry locality to impart messages and training in safe cycling while elsewhere Monaghan Sports Partnership (Cycling Ireland) tutors, Valerie Campion, Paul Mc Elvaney and Seamus Mc Elroy also visited Schools as part of a safe cycling initiative. Pupils of Scoil Eanna Ballybay & Ballybay Central School on their Bikeweek cycle
Mountain Biking skill training and trail cycle Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre s mountain bike event was saw teenagers get active through mountain biking skills training around the centre s surroundings and also incorporated a trail cycle through nearby Dartrey Forest. Teenagers enjoying mountain biking at Tanagh OEC Teenagers enjoying mountain biking at Tanagh OEC
Community Cycling events Clones Cycling Club held a leisure sping for club members and members of the wider community while also hoisting a fun cycle event at the Peace Link Sports Centre for the younger members of their community. 4 Counties Cycling Club hosted a leisure spin from Magheracloone into Carrickmacross and enjoyed refreshments at the Shirley Arms Hotel. Members of 4 Counties cycling club bringing members of the community on a short leisurely spin Muckno Triathlon Club held its Duathlon event in Ballybay with a number of first-time competitors undertaking the run, cycle, run event. Bikes ready for the off at Ballybay Wetlands Centre for Muckno Triathlon Club s duathlon event
As National Bikeweek drew to a close, a small group in Mullyash headed for the mountains for a casual cycle while Monaghan Sports Partnership wrapped up Bike Week with a leisurely public cycle in Monaghan along the Greenway. Enclosed are a number of newspaper article and items in relation to National Bikeweek in County Monaghan. Information was published on an ongoing basis through the following; Monaghan Sports Partnership website www.monaghansports.ie Monaghan County Council website www.monaghan.ie Monaghan County Councils Staff Intranet System Bikeweek Monaghan dedicated facebook page www.facebook.com/bike-week-monaghan Local media Northern Sound radio (covering Monaghan & Cavan) Local Media Northern Standard newspaper Email contacts over 1300 individuals Poster advertisement through local towns / village In conclusion, a number of events on the 2015 calendar were very well attended and supported by members of the Community. However the event management and planning requires some revision and re-structuring to ensure that as many members of the public have access to bike training, leisure cycles etc as possible. It will be considered, pending funding allocation in 2016, that the Bikeweek event may be placed within one town (encompassing a large radial area) so that events are regular and consistent with many opportunities throughout the week as opposed to one event per area s it currently is. However this will be dependent on the appetite of local communities to support National Bikeweek and collaborate with a Bike Festival.