Organisers of the Rás Tailteann cycling race around Ireland have expressed their confidence that the race will return this year, targeting a five-day event from June 16-19.
Cáirde Rás Tailteann has said that the plan is to use the same route as had been planned for the postponed races in 2020 and 2021.
That would mean a start in Dublin and a finale in Blackrock, County Louth via stage finishes in Horse and Jockey, Castleisland, Lisdoonvarna and Kilbeggan.
The race was the last run in 2018 but that year was funded out of reserves built up over the duration of a successful commercial partnership with An Post.
A long search for a sponsor in 2019 proved unsuccessful and the race had to be pulled.
Speaking at the time Race Director Eimear Dignam whose family had been involved since the creation of the race in the 1950s said “We have exhausted all opportunities in relation to sponsorship for a UCI race this year.”
“I am extremely disappointed. I have been involved in the race my whole life. But I am satisfied that I explored every opportunity to us to secure a sponsorship. We never envisaged that it would come to an end like this, but hopefully, it won’t be an end.”
Plans to revive the race in 2020 and in 2021 were scuppered by Covid and lockdowns but hopefully, it will now be back as a UCI graded event in June.
The news follows the revival after Covid of the Rás Mumhan in Kerry which will take place over the Easter weekend.
Sport for Business Perspective
Ireland’s strong tradition in cycling and the importance of the sport to our active tourism profile makes it appropriate and important that this prestigious race should be revived. With the easing of pressure on sponsorship budgets, it has to be hoped that the commercial backing which would be important to the race taking place can be found.
