1950's

1955 Gene Mangan, Kerry Wins The Rás Tailteann
Feb 24, 2007, 17:05

 An  Rás Tailteann

31st.July  - 7th. August 1955

Route

Stage 1:   Dublin To Newry,  107 Miles.
Dublin, Swords, Balbriggan, Julianstown,Droghda, Dundalk, Moyle Hill, Newry

Stage 2:   Newry To Sligo, 140 Miles.
Newry, Armagh, Pomeroy, Omagh, Belleek, Bundoran, Sligo

Stage 3:   Sligo To Westport, 75 Miles.
Sligo, Coollooney, Tobercurry, Charlestown, Swinford, Castlebar, Newport, Westport.

Stage 4:   Westport To Ennis, 91 Miles.
Westport, Kilavally, Ballinrobe, Headford, Galway, Kilcolgan, Gort, Ennis.

Stage 5:   Ennis To Tralee, 89 Miles.
Ennis, Limerick, Rathkeale, Newcastlewest, Abbeyfeale, Tralee.

Stage 6:   Tralee To Cork, 88 Miles.
Tralee, Farranfore, Killarney, Kenmare, Glengariff, Bantry, Drimoleague, Ballineen, Bandon, Cork.

Stage 7:   Cork To Wexford, 129 Miles.
Cork, Waterglasshill, Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Cahir, Clonmel, Carrick-On-Suir, Waterford, New Ross, Wexford.

Stage 8:   Wexford To Dublin 104 Miles.
Wexford, Enniscorthy, Kildavin, Ballon, Carlow, Athy, Naas, Rathcoole, Esplanade (Collins Barracks)

Race Director:   Joe Christle

The Start O'Connell Street

 

The Start Of The 1955 Rás At The G.P.O. No.53 P. O'Callaghan, No. 6 M. Mooney, No. 23 M. Christle, No. 34 J. Pegley, No. 2 S. MacGreevy, No 25. M.Denny, No. 22. S.Abbott, No.24 R.Williams, No. 3 D. Monaghan, No.26 G.Keogh, No. 33 C.Carr

Stage Winners:

Rás Winner 1955  

Gene Mangan Rás Winner 1955

King Of The Mountains

S. Abbott, Dublin

County Team Winners  Kerry

G. Mangan P. Fitzgerald, P. O'Callaghan

Gene Mangan On The Attack During The 1955 Rás

Mick Palmer, Connacht 3rd Overall

List Of Competitors 1955

Competitor No1. will not be riding. He Is Phil Clark of Dublin, at present serving a term of 10 years' imprisonment in Crumlin Road Prision Belfast.
"Phil" is a Vice-President of the N.C.A.I.

1.       P. Clarke         Down 2.       S. MacGreevy 3.       D. Monaghan 4.       B. Monaghan 5.       T. Halliday 6.       M. Mooney       Tyrone 7.       J. MacIvor 8.       P.Rogers 9.       T. Rogers 10.   S. Devlin 11.   M. Mallon               Meath 12.   T. Flanagan 13.   L. Collins 14.   T.Gerrard 15.   B. Reilly 16.   B. Griffith               Louth 17.   A. Davis 18.   J. O’Hare 19.   P. MacCarville 20.   J. Lennon 21.   T.Tully               Dublin 22.   S.Abbott 23.   M. Christle 24.   R. Willams 25.   M. Denny 26.   G. Keogh               Wexford 27.   V. Bridges 28.   O. Culleton 29.    P.Lacey 30.   S.O’Rourke 31.   D. Allen                Kildare 32.   B. O’Brien 33.   C. Carr 34.   J.Pegley 35.   J. Crowe 36.   K. Sloane              Cork 37.   M. Carr 38.   P.Hickey 39.   F. Healy 40.   G. Thomas 41.   J. Varian

Tipperary 42     J. Gearon 43     P.O’Meara 44     J. Curran 45     J. Carey       46   S. Healy         Limerick 47     D. Ryan 48     R. Long 49     S.Ryan 50     P O’Meara 51     J. Jensen            Kerry 52     P. Fitzgerald 53     P.O’Callaghan 54     J. Switzer 55     G. Mangan 56     J. O’Connor             Connaught 57     M. Palmer 58     R. Geraghty 59     J. Keane 60     P.Keane 61     N. Fahy             Sligo 62     C. Gurhy              Waterford 63     R. Galvin            Wicklow 64     E. Dalton              Monaghan 65     J. Skinnader             Individuals 66     C. Dunne 67     F. Ward 68     D.O’Connor 69     J. Jefforss 70     L.O’Connor 71     J. Curley 72     P. Murphy 73     S. Condron 74     A. Cassidy 75     T.Healy

Mick Christle, Dublin

Kerry Sloane, Kildare

Dennis O' Connor Winner Of Stage 1 Dublin To Newry

Palmer’s Cruel Luck In Rás Tailteann

D. O’Connor Takes First Stage     By T.D. Burke Irish Independent

Denis O’Connor, 19 year old member of the Harp Cycling Club, Dublin, riding as an individual, yesterday won the first stage of Rás Tailteann, N.C.A. 1,000 miles Tour of Ireland when he completed the 106 miles run from Dublin to Newry in 4 hours 17 minutes and 15 seconds, one second ahead of the Dublin Team Rider, Malachy Denny.
Mick Palmer, of Westport, the Connacht Champion, who was riding for his Province, was third 25 seconds behind, but were it not for the cruelest of luck when leading by 30 seconds with only three miles to go, he would almost certainly have been first man home.

Chain Broke
On the decent from the long, testing Moyle Hill, he was riding confidently, and appeared certain to increase his half a minute lead and finish alone when his chain broke.
While he was coping with this emergency, O’Connor and Denny passed him. Determined not to give up, Palmer grabbed a fixed-wheel sports bike from an obliging young spectator, and set off in pursuit. It was a tribute to his courage and determination that he finished only 25 seconds behind the winner.
O’Connor won the 50 Miles Championship of Ireland last year and the National C.C. Veselsky Trophy at Maynooth a few weeks ago.
Generally, this opening stage was a calm and almost sedate affair. In the intense heat, the riders seemed to be content with a tactical battle and were, no doubt, reserving their energies for the tough 140 miles run to-day from Newry to Sligo.
Apart from the dramatic blow to palmers hopes, the run was almost devoid of incident and was notable for the remarkably few punctures. To-day’s run, however, may tell a different story, and the long milage and hilly country are expected to reduce the field. The 72 starters yesterday all finished.

First “Break”
The race Proceeded placidly until the Balrothery straight where Denis Ryan(Limerick) and Natty Fahy(Connacht) made the first major breakaway. They built up a 20 seconds lead from the field, but were quickly caught again.
Brian Monaghan(Down), Christy Gurhy(Sligo), Joe Lennon(Louth), D Collins(Meath) and Tony Halliday(Down) next made a definite break to lead the bunch by 50 seconds at Balbriggan, where Tom Flanagan(Meath) and Pat Murphy(Dublin) were involved in a minor pile-up. Fortunately no one was injured.
Vic Richards(Wexford) was dropped by the bunch on the Julianstown Hill. Tom Gerrard(Meath) then dropped back to bring up his team-mates Tom Flanagan and B. Griffith, who had been delayed by the mishap at Balbriggan.
This excellent piece of team-work resulted in Meath being again at full strength in the main group within a few miles.
The leaders were ahead of the field by one minute and seven seconds at Drogheda, and 20 seconds behind them were Alec Davis(Louth), N. Fahy, Jim Curley(Tailteann), Jack Keogh(Kildare), Pat Rogers(Tyrone), Steve Abbott(Dublin), P. McCrudden (Louth). After 1 hour and 30 minutes, 36 miles had been covered.
At Dundalk, Brian Monaghan won an exciting sprint to the line to beat the Louth man, Joe Lennon, for the only prime of the day.

Over The Border
Pat O’Callaghan(Kerry), who had been one of a little breakaway group, then began to drop away, and the bunch eventually caught up with him. Crossing the border, Paud Fitzgerald(Kerry), Steve Abbott, Joe Carey(Tipperary) and Joe Ivors(Tyrone) had a lead of 30 seconds over a fourteen-man second group which included Monaghan.
Swinging back over the border, Castleblaney was reached in 2 hours 57 minutes, and the leaders were then Mick Palmer(Connacht), Malachy Denny(Dublin), Denis O’Connor(Tailteann) and Christy Gurhy.

Having left Newtownhamilton, Moyle Hill took its toll, and the lead in the first group was constantly changing. Palmer eventually opened up a 30 seconds lead only to meet with the rank bad luck described above.

Stage Results

General Classification.

O’Connor, Third Into Sligo, Still Leads Rás Tailteann Stage 2

Meath’s Tom Flanagan won yesterday’s 140 miles Newry-Sligo stage of Rás Tailteann, N. C. A. 1,000 mile cycle race tour of Ireland, Finishing one-fifth of a second ahead Of Paud Fitzgerald Of Kerry, with Sunday’s stage winner, Denis O’Connor (Harp C.C.) only a further fifth of a second behind. O’Connor Retains the leader’s jersey, as he still leads on aggregate time of 10 hours 57 minuets 20 and two-fifth seconds.
Dick Galvin (Waterford) and Dermot Monaghan (Down) a brother od Brian Monaghan, who was the prime winner on Sunday, had a nasty spill 18 miles from the finish. Both  suffered shoulder injures and will not ride in to-day’s Sligo-Westport Stage.

Obstacles On Road

Despite the late start which upset the schedule, this the longest stage of the race, was finished by the first five riders in under 6 hours, 41 minuets, 6 seconds. This was remarkable fast time and the riders had more than the heat with which to contend as frequent encounters with steam rollers and road repairs gangs not to mention the stretches of unsurfaced roads on which they were working made the going really tough.
Police co-operation on both sides of the Border was excellent and the crowds which greeted the race in every town gave the riders a sporting chance, but one can only hope that for the rest of this trip we shall not meet so many dogs straying on the roads, as they constitute a real danger.
Brian Monaghan who was placed joint sixth on Sunday, rode an extremely good race to finish in the first ten yesterday and has moved into third place in the general classification. If he can maintain this form he stands a good chance of being considered in the final shake up.
However the further south this race goes the more one expects Paud Fitzgerald to increase his effort and the Kerry man will undoubtedly try his hardest to lead the field into Tralee.The team race has so far taken a back seat as the individual riders have been claiming the major share of the top prizes

G.A.A. Gesture
The Sligo G.A.A. authorities made a very pleasant and spontaneous gesture when they presented special prizes for the first three finishers yesterday.
After 14 miles Frank Ward, Dennis O’Connor, Sean Condron, Denis Ryan, Tom Flanagan Paud Fitzgerald and Pat Murphy had established a two minuet lead, with Jim Curley 30 seconds ahead of the bunch. Armagh was reached in 55 minuets with the leaders two minuets and two seconds ahead of the next breakaway group, Monaghan, Curley McIvor and Healy.
B. Griffith and A. Davis were leading the bunch 15 seconds behind the second group. A few moles further on E. Dalton dropped back with wheel trouble and when a shower made the roads greasy young John Jensen of Limerick came down after a skid, fortunately without injury. Carr too ran into a spot of bother but having changed bikes was soon back with the main body.
Five miles from Dungannon, john Varian of Cork and Pat Rogers, Tyrone had opened up a forty-five-second lead from the bunch with Griffith, Davis and Carr lying three minuets ahead of them.
Curley, McIvor, Healy and Monaghan who had been pursuing the leaders very steadily, now joined up with them and the main body was five minuets behind. The 39 mile from Newry to Dungannon was covered in 1hour 30 minuets.
The Frequent hill were causing the field to string out into numerous small groups and the main body was soon seven and a half minuets behind the first break.
Tony Halliday, John Varian, J. Tully and Andy Cassidy (Tailteann) took a15 second lead from the bunch going away from Dungannon
Davis and Jim Pegley joined the leaders near Pomeroy where Fitzgerald won the sprint to take the prime. At this stage Griffiths was dropped from the first pursuit group.

11 Minuets Behind
The main field was loosing ground steadily and when the leaders had covered 60 miles in an houe and 57 minuets the men at the rear were 11 minuets behind. At Carrickmore Griffith, Tom Gerrard, Varian Halliday, Pat O’Callaghan and Seamus Healy formed the main pursuit group and they soon absorbed Murphy.
Omagh (67miles) was reached in 2  hours and 38 minuets with Monaghan, Ward, Condron, Davis, Curley, O’Connor, Fitzgerald and McIvor in the lead. The rear bunch had begun to gain some ground and a few miles beyond Omagh the field had tidied up considerably, there were being only the leading group and the bunch who were 7 minuets behind. Enderry (83 miles) was reached in 3 hours 34 minuets 30 seconds.
Hopes of the leaders being caught were, however, dashed when road repairs in the neighbourhood of Kesh were responsible for the pursuit group being again split into small and ineffective splinter breaks while the compact leading party kept on increasing their lead, working very well together.
At Beleek repair works on the bridge further delayed the main body, and the leading ten who had been together for nearly 80 miles carried on without any challenge, and  Flanagan was first home in a fine sprint for the line. The next group was five minuets three seconds behind.

Stage Results.

Gene Mangan Double Satge Winner & Overall Winner In The Yellow Jersey In Dublin

Mangan Wins Rás Tailteann Third Stage
O’Connor Retains Position As Overall Leader

Nineteen year old Gene Mangan, of Killorglin Co. Kerry, won yesterday’s Sligo-Westport stage of Rás Tailteann, but Denis O’Connor (Harp C.C. Dublin) riding as an Individual, still leads the general classification and will for the third day in succession have the honour of wearing the race-leader’s yellow jersey when the fourth stage, to Ennis starts to-day.
O’Connor rode very steadily and held his own in the bunch where a thrilling battle was waged between the Dublin and Kildare teams and finished with the group all timed at 2 hours 59 minuets and 9 seconds. 1 second behind the leader.
Paud Fitzgerald kept the Kerry flag flying in the overall race when maintaining his runner up position to O’Connor whose race leader’s bonus time, has, however, now given him a lead of three minuets 39 seconds.
Mick Palmer made a gallant effort to give his home town a supporters the satisfaction of seeing him first across the line at Westport, but the fates were against him and having stayed out in front on his own for 30 miles, he was caught just outside Castlebar.
He was unable to get away again, but stayed with the leaders to finish fourth in a “blanket” finish in which the nine leaders were timed equally. It was a very gallant performance.
Gene Mangan was always in the picture in a very fast race, and having narrowly failed to deprive Leo Collins (Meath) of the prime at Castlebar, he took a nasty spill on the sharp descent leaving the town
It speaks well for his tenacity that he almost immediately rejoined the leaders and he had his reward when he just beat Steve Abbott on the line at Westport.
Further proof of his ability to overcome misfortune was the fact that he caught both the bunch and the breakaway after he had broken a front axle 30 miles out from Sligo. Another fine performance was that of Mick Carr ,who had been going well in the leading group only a mile from the finish when he had a puncture. Nothing Daunted., He made a quick change and came in on his own a mere 26 seconds behind the leaders.
Kept Pressing
The race, over fairly hilly country was contested at a cracking pace all through, and the bunch kept pressing the leaders. They were so close five miles from the finish that is seemed as if they would have a bunch finish. As Things turned out, the main body were only two minuets nine seconds behind the leaders.
R. Galvin who was involved in a crash outside Sligo in Monday started in yesterday’s stage as his injuries were not so severe as had been thought.
Two miles beyond Tubbercurry (21miles) which was reached in 52 minuets, the first break occurred when mick Palmer went ahead hotly pursued by Christie Dunne, Mick Christle, Tom Gerrard, Pat Hickey, john Varian and Jim Curley. The pace was very fast and Palmer lying twenty seconds ahead of the pursuit group was dong over 35 miles an hour.
The bunch was also going at a very fast pace and were only 50 seconds behind the second group.
A few miles further on T. Rodgers and J. O’Connor punctured.
After 41 miles Palmer was still ahead, leading a new four man pursuit group comprising of Steve Abbott, Frank Ward, Tom Gerrard and Jim Curley, but Abbott and Gerrard lost at least 30 seconds when they took a wrong turn and were soon absorbed by the fast moving bunch.
Palmer at last showed signs of tiring and Don Williams , Con Carr, L. Collins, Pat Hickey, Mick Carr, Steve Abbott and tom Gerrard were hot on his heels. The gallant Westport lad was caught just outside Castlebar where a ten man lead group was headed by Leo Collins who beat Gene Mangan for the prime.
The 52 miles to Castlebar had been covered in two hours ten minuets and ten seconds and at this stage the bunch were only one minuet behind. A mile out from the finish Mick Carr punctured, but was off like a flash on the trail of the leaders
Great Finish
The run in provided a great chase with the bunch always threatening to catch up, but the leaders really turned on the steam for the last few miles and Mangan led Abbott, hickey and Palmer over the line in an exciting sprint. The first nine were timed at 2 hours 50 minuets and 9 seconds.
Twenty –six seconds later came Mick Carr and Pat O’Meara of Limerick followed at 3 hours 1 minuet 5 seconds. Paddy O’Brien leading in the bunch 5 seconds later

Stage Results.

Frank Ward (Individual) Winner Of Stage Four

O’Connor Retains Lead, Ward First Into Ennis

Fourth Stage Honours Go To Harp Club Riders

It was a great day for the Harp C.C., Dublin, yesterday, when for the third day in succession Denis O’Connor, and individual entrant, retained his leadership in the general classification, while his club-mate, Frank Ward, was first to cross the line to win Westport – Ennis stage of Rás Tailteann, the NCA 1,000 miles tour of Ireland.
Brian Monaghan of Down, who finished in the main bunch with O’Connor, has edged Paud Fitzgerald out of second place in the general classification. Fitzgerald, who was feeling the effects of a spill, came in four minutes behind the leaders.
Con Carr of Kildare has gone from eleventh to sixth place, and Joe McIvor of Tyrone, who was involved in a spill yesterday, has dropped to eleventh place.Again the cycling was done at a cracking pace and the 89miles run was completed by the six-man leading group in three hours 38 minutes and 30 seconds.
Brilliant sunshine and, for the most part, narrow, winding roads made the going tough, but the riders never spared themselves in a grand day’s racing.
While the run assumed a settled pattern after about thirty miles and it was obvious that the leading six were unlikely to be overtaken, the day was full of interest.
The further south they go the more the Kerry men are coming into the picture and we may expect an all-out effort by them to dominate to-morrow’s run into Tralee, their county capital.
This stage, too, is the start of the really tough mountain country and we may expect some grim struggles to-day and to-morrow, particularly as Kerry have now jumped into the lead in the team placings.
Frank Ward, whose constantly sound  riding and earned him 13^th place in the general classification at Westport, showed that unlucky numbers hold no terrors for him when he went away in the first break and held his place until the all-out sprint for the finishing line, where he crossed in front of Kerry’s Pat O’Callaghan.

Content In Bunch
Denis O’Connor was content to watch his own interest in the bunch and make sure that nobody stole a march on him, thus ensuring that he would start the next stage still wearing the race-leader’s yellow jersey.
Paud Fitzgerald of Kerry, who was second to O’Connor in the general classification on Tuesday evening was involved in a spill six miles from the finish yesterday, but apart from superficial cuts and sprains he escaped injury. There was a doubt last night whether he would be able to take his place at the start to-day but I shall be very surprised if this game rider is not very much to the fore on the road to Tralee.
Kerry interests were well upheld by Pat O’Callaghan, who was away in the brea, and carried his county’s colours with the leading six at the finish, where they were all timed equal at 3 hours 38 minutes and 30 seconds.

Other Fallers
Outside Galway a horse reared, and Ron Williams, of Dublin, came down, but escaped injury, although the gears of his machine were damaged. Youngest rider in the race, John Jensen (Limerick), also fell here but he too was unhurt. Despite his damaged bike, Williams set out at full pelt and caught the bunch before Gort was reached.
Sean Condron (Tailteann) fell near Clarenbridge and Mick Mooney (Down) moving up was involved, suffering a buckled front wheel and the loss of a few spokes. Despite this handicap the north of Ireland man rode splendidly to take sixth place at the finish.
Tommy McCrudden (Louth), who was involved in the spill at balbriggan on Sunday, had gear trouble on Monday, and damaged a wheel on Tuesday, had his first trouble-free days yesterday and rode well to finish high up.
A few miles out of Westport, Jim Skinnader punctured and fell far behind. Mattie Fahy, Kerry Sloan and Pat O’Meara of Limerick were also trailing early on.
Headford (31 miles) was reached an hour and 19 minutes and six miles further on the only important break of the day occurred when Gerry Keogh (Dublin), Frank Ward (Harp), Conn Carr (Kildare) Basil Reilly (Meath) Pat O’Callaghan (Kerry) and Michael Mooney (Down) broke away and quickly gained a 40 seconds lead.

Lead Increased

At Galway (47 miles) John Curran (Tipperary) and Pat Rogers (Tyrone) were following the leaders only 45 seconds in arrears. Behind them came a six-man group who were 1 minute 20 seconds behind and the next bunch were being led by the front group by 2 minutes 10 seconds. The leaders steadily increased their advantage and had a comfortable lead of two minutes 5 seconds over the next bunch in whick was led by Mick Palmer.
Gene Mangan (Kerry) who won Tuesday’s Sligo-Westport stage led in the next group 2 minutes and 46 seconds behind the leaders, and main bunch led by Joe McIvor (Tyrone) finished in 3 hours 45 minutes 25 seconds.

Stage Results

General Classification.

Steven Abbott, Dublin Won Stage 5 Into Tralee Is Seen Here Wearing The Race Leaders Yellow Jersey

O’Connor Now Holds Lead Of Five Minutes Stage 5
The biggest crowd yet to watch the finish of a stage of the Rás Tailteann turned out in Castle Street, Tralee, to-night at the end of the fifth stage and were rewarded by witnessing the best finish so far. Over 50 riders came through in a bunch and it looked as if Kerry’s Gene Mangan, winner of the Sligo – Westport stage would win. With 10 yards to go he led by at least two lengths, but, mainstay of the Dublin Team, 19-years-old Steve Abbott, came through with a phenomenal burst and literally lifted his machine over the line inches in front.
Abbot, a laboratory technician at U.C.D., when I asked him why he left it so late, said that he was sitting up waiting for a chance to get through from the moment they entered Castle Street. “It was only a short distance from the line that I saw an opening and got through”.
Although he has been well up with the leader’s right through, this is Abbott’s first actual win, and lifts him from fifth place to fourth on general classification. Frank Ward (Individual, Harp C.C., Dublin), who held fourth place at Ennis, was timed equal with Abbott at 3hrs. 43mins. 3secs. but Abbott’s minute bonus as stage winner gives him the advantage.
Denis O’Connor (Individual, Harp C.C., Dublin) was also in the bunch, all timed equal, and has increased his overall lead to over five minutes on the strength of his minute bonus that goes with the yellow race leaders jersey each night.
B. Monaghan (Down) still holds second place, while P. Fitzgerald (Kerry) remains third. But Fitzgerald’s team-mate, Mangan, is steadily creeping up, having taken over fifth place by virtue of the 45 seconds he receives for finishing second in the stage.

Kerry In Lead
In the team event Kerry still leads, with Dublin second.
If O’Connor can keep up his form of to-day on to-morrow’s long mountain stretches it will be an extremely hard task for him to be caught by anyone. Mangan and Fitzgerald present the biggest dangers. They are past masters in the art of hill climbing, and it will be intriguing to see if they can exploit their mountain training to the full to-morrow.
Considerable confusion was caused by a re-routing which excluded Listowel from the course. It was originally to be taken in but for the advantage of better roads the race directors decided to by-pass it and go in through Castleisland. Pressmen, however, were not informed of this change until late this morning and, many people, as a result, were disappointed.
A couple of miles out of Ennis, J. McIvor (Tyrone), feeling the effects of his crash yesterday, retired on the advice of his team manager. Just after leaving Newmarket-On-Fergus, which was reached in 20 minutes, J.Switzer (Kerry) had pedal trouble but was back with the bunch inside 10 miles.
Eight miles from limerick N. Fahy (Connacht) and J. Curran (Tipperary) crashed but both re-covered and were back with the bunch when the first break occurred.
S. Healy (Tipperary), T. Gerrard (Meath), R. Long (Limerick) and P. O’Callaghan (Kerry) opened up a 20 seconds lead with race leader Denis O’Connor (Individual, Harp C.C., Dublin) and yesterdays stage winner Frank Ward (Individual, Harp C.C., Dublin), leaving the bunch behind.
The leaders held their advantage to Limerick (22 miles), which was reached in 52 minutes. Passing through O’Connell St. they had 25seconds on the bunch, now led by D. Ryan (Limerick).
Carr Injured
Two miles beyond Limerick a dog ran among the bunch, Con Carr couldn’t avoid the animal and crashed heavily breaking his collarbone. Thus, Kildare’s hopes in the team event vanished for the time being, for Carr, sixth on general classification, was their main hope.
The four leaders held their advantage through Adare, but at Rathkeale, just on 40 miles from Ennis, which was reached in 1hr. 40mins., the bunch closed up rapidly. And a few miles further on they caught up.
Almost immediately another group, consisting of Pat O’Meara (Tipperary), S. Abbott (Dublin), L. Collins (Meath) and P. Rogers (Tyrone) broke and quickly built up a lead of nearly a minute.But on the climb to the top of Barna Hill, 10 miles from Abbeyfeale, agroup consisting of race leader Denis O’Connor, his nearest rival on classification, B. Monaghan (Down) and B. O’Brien (Kildare), J. Skinnedar (Tyrone) and J. Curley (Individual, Tailteann, Dublin) closed to within 20secs., with the bunch led by Frank Ward just behind.

Forged Ahead
At Abbeyfeale 60 miles had been covered in 2hrs. 38mins. and a strong group, consisting of O’Connor, Curley, Abbott, Rogers, O’Meara (Tipp), Monaghan, Skinnedar, Collins and P. Fitzgerald (Kerry) had forged ahead and had 1 and a half mins. on the bunch.
For a while they looked like holding it, but it was a climb all the way to Castleisland and just outside the town they were engulfed by the bunch.
A quick dart to the front just after leaving the town saw Tyrone’s P. Rogers open up a lead of about 20secs. and he rode on his own for nine miles before being caught just outside Tralee. The bunch were together then but a magnificent sprint saw Abbott win.

Stage Results.

General Classification.

Steve Abbott Takes The Yellow Jersey
In Rás Tailteann Stage 6

Steve Abbott (Dublin), yesterdays stage winner and top man of the Dublin Team, has ousted Denis O’Connor (Indiv., Harp C.C.) as race leader in the Rás Tailteann following a most dramatic sixth stage to-day. The dreaded mountains, between Tralee and Cork, took their expected toll – O’Connor cracked and there was a major reshuffle in the General Classification.

Steve Abbott Dublin Race Leader

Abbott, by finishing fourth to team-mate Gerry Keogh, who was a revelation to-day when winning the stage after some disappointing riding earlier this week, takes over leadership.

Keogh, was with a leading bunch of eight riders from a few miles out of Tralee. This bunch held their lead for nearly 100 miles and Keogh sneaked away a mile from the finish to win by 10secs from the other seven who were all timed equal at 5hrs 39 min. 15 secs.

Second was Gene Mangan of Kerry, again beaten on the post as he was in Tralee yesterday. Brilliant individual rider, Frank Ward, was third just in front of Abbott. O’Connor finished well down the field in a bunch timed at 5hrs 51mins 30secs and has dropped to fifth place on general classification.

Abbott has a lead of 10 4-5 sec. actual time from Mangan, who jumped from fifth to second. But when they leave Cork tomorrow for the second last stage to Wexford, Abbott will really have 1min. 10 4-5 secs he gains a min when he dons the yellow race leaders jersey.

This stage although it followed a more or less set pattern for 100 miles, was easily the most interesting so far. The field had broken up even before they hit the climb just beyond Killarney with O’Connor 2 minutes down.

The leaders just beyond Killarney, a distance of 22 miles, which was reached in 44 mins 35 secs were: C. Dunne, G. Keogh, M. Palmer, S. Abbott, P. Hickey, T. Flanagan, G. Mangan, F. Ward and P. Callaghan.

They had a lead of 2 min. 30 secs, on the main bunch at Lady’s View, where Abbott took the first King of the Hills Prime from Flanagan. Just at this point Mangan broke a wheel and O’Callaghan switched bikes with him.

Coming down the hill into Kenmare a distance of 42 miles covered in 1hr 42 mins, Mangan was closing with the leaders, and on the climb to the second King of the Hills Prime after Tunnel road caught up and actually took the points when beating Abbott.

Further bad luck hindered the Kerry rider, however, a mile further on when he had to change a wheel and lost nearly a minute. He chased strongly at terrific speed all the way to Bantry, 30 miles out from Tralee, and caught them.

Here the leaders had three minutes on a second group consisting of S. McGreevey (Down), J. Curley (Dublin), A. Cassidy (Dublin), S. Ryan (Limerick) and P. O’Callaghan (Kerry).

The bunch in which O’Connor was situated was 9 min. 5 secs down at this stage and the main group a further six minutes behind.

They stayed in these positions positions and at Enniskeane, 30 miles from Cork, the eight-strong leading group had 11 minutes on O’Connor. In the same group as O’Connor at this stage were Fitzgerald and Monaghan.

Steve Abbott Took the King of the Hills points from Flanagan at Liberty Hill, six miles from Cork, but then Keogh timed his effort well to win.

Although Dublin can claim the man with the yellow jersey and also to-days stage winner, Kerry still lead them by nine minutes on the team aggregate.

Stage Results.

Mangan Turns The Tables On Abbott

Kerry Cyclist Leads Rás Tailteann Stage 7

G Mangan Kerry, Race Leader

Gene Mangan, of Killorglin, Co. Kerry, who returned from England specially to compete in Rás Tailteann, gained sweet revenge yesterday when he took over the race leadership from Steve Abbott of Dublin at the end of the seventh stage –Cork to Wexford – of this 1,000-mile tour of Ireland
Abbott had just deprived him of the stage victory in Tralee, the capital of his native Kerry, on Thursday, and on Friday improved so well in the general classification that he started yesterday’s run wearing the coveted yellow race leaders jersey.
Yesterday Mangan turned the tables completely, winning the stage, displacing Abbott at the top of the general classification, and playing a big part in keeping Kerry still in the leading position in the team race.
Abbott gained considerable consolation by winning the King Of The Mountains title and it is quite possible that he will be very much to the fore when the race finishes at the Esplande, Dublin, to-day at approximately 3.30.
Yesterday’s run of 128 miles was not particularly spectacular, but it was hard slogging all the way. Denis O’Connor (Harp), who had ridden so steadily to lead the race for the first five days, showed the effects of his gruelling time in the Kerry mountains on Friday and it was obvious early on that he would not come back with a serious challenge on this stage.
At Watergrasshill, just outside Cork, Mick Carr had a ten seconds lead on Ronnie Williams and Steve Abbott of Dublin and Gene Mangan of Kerry and they in turn were only a matter of seconds ahead of the main group.
At Kilworth (28 miles), the leaders were Mick Palmer, Mick Christle, Seamus Healy, Pat O’Callaghan, Victor Bridges, Michael Mooney, Leo Collins, Jack Crowe, Joe Lennon.
Gerard Thomas of Cork led the bunch through one minute later and Denis O’Connor, who had led the race for the first five days, was in the rear of this group.
Just after this, Mick Carr, who had been showing signs of strain, retired from the race.
Cahir (50 miles) was reached in 2 hours, 16 minutes, with the leading positions showing very little alteration.

Another Retirement
A few minutes further on it was obvious that Fridays gruelling run from Tralee to Cork was having its effect on the riders and Lennon followed Carr’s example and retired.
At Clonmel (60 miles) afther 2 hours, 45 minutes riding Mick Christle, Mick Curran, Tom Ryan and Basil Reilly, had a 15 seconds lead on Steven Ryan, and Michael Mooney. Just behind them came John Switzer of Kerry, who was 15 seconds ahead of Leo Collins, Palmer, B. O’Brien and the bunch was a minute and 15 seconds in arrears at this stage.
At Carrick-On-Suir the big and enthusiastic local crowd nearly went wild with excitement when Healy, a native of the town, duly obliged, by being the first man in and to complete their joy he was followed by another Tipperary man, Mick Curran.
Mick Christle followed 1 minute and 35 seconds later. Healy not only took the Prime of the day but also received a special cup presented by the people of Carrick-On-Suir for the first Tipperary man to reach the town.

Losing Ground
At this stage the bunch included O’Connor, Paud Fitzgerald, and Abbott. The main bunch were steadily losing ground to the first pursuit group, but the leaders, Healy, Curran, Christle and O’Reilly, were still out ahead. However their lead was quickly cut down and seven miles from Waterford they were absorbed into the chasing groups.
At Waterford (91 miles, which was reached in 4 hours, 8 minutes and 35 seconds, the position was unchanged with the now big leading group 2 minutes and 50 seconds ahead of the main bunch.
The 106 miles to New Ross was covered in 4 hours 56 minutes when B. O’Brien joined the leading group.
It was now evident that Abbott had shot his bolt and the odds were on Mangan taking over the race leadership. Seventeen miles from Wexford Seamus McGreevey of Down, Collins of Meath and Switzer of Kerry made a break after the leaders but were unable to catch up and in a sprint for the line Mangan Just beat Christle for the stage victory, to be followed by Pat Hickey (Cork), Andy Cassidy (Tailteann), Frank Ward (Harp) and Gerrard (Meath). They were all timed equally at 5 hours 59 minutes.

Stage Results.

General Classification.