Dillon With The George Plant Memorial Trophy After His 2023 Rás Win

Although I took the biggest victory of my career at Rás Tailteann last year, I have to admit coming back to defend my title wasn’t initially part of the plan.

Shortly after winning the Rás last year, I signed a pro contract for this year with French third division team St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93 and have spent most of my time since on the road. As a first-year pro, I was keen to race at the start of the year. So when my new team-mates got sick or injured I put my hand up to fill in. I have more than 30 days of racing in my legs already, a lot more than I usually have at this time of year.

After a hectic early season, a big block of training took me into the week-long Tour de Bretagne at the end of April before Tro-Bro Leon, the Tour du Finistere, Boucle de l’Aulne and last week’s Four Days of Dunkirk.

While Sam Bennett stormed to four stage wins and the overall victory in Dunkirk, I pulled the pin on day four and skipped the last two days of the six-day race due to fatigue.

The Kerry Team Of 2004

Kerry team wins county title for first time since 56 in FBD Milk Rás

THE Kerry team won the County title and the Irish National team swept the individual and international titles in the FBD Milk Rás eight-day cycle race which finished in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday.

Kerry won their first county title since the 1950s with team leader Paul Griffin in fine form. He had three top 10 stage placings, including third into Millstreet, wore the points jersey for a day, was 14th overall and second best county rider.
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The Late Paddy Flanagan
The world of Irish cycling suffered a tragic loss recently with the sudden death of Paddy Flanagan. The Kildare rider was at the top of the sport for nearly two decades and although he had great success in all branches of cycle sport, he will probably be best remembered for his three victories in the Ras. Only Shay O'Hanlon, with 4 wins, has a better record in Ireland's premier stage race but in some ways Flanagan surpassed the Dubliner, notably in the span of his time at the top, 16 years between his first win in 1960 and his third in 1975. O'Hanlon won first in 1962 and then had a purple period when he took the yellow jersey on the opening stage in 1965 and never lost it for the next three years. It is fitting that Paddy Flanagan should be specially remembered on the Ras website and what better way than to retell the story of those three years. It is also a tribute to another Ras rider who died only a few months earlier. Mick Cahill of Cork was one of the stars of the 1975 Ras and was with Flanagan and O'Hanlon in the break of the race on the final Saturday which gave the Kildare rider his victory. Mick went on to finish 8th overall.
JIM TRAYNOR

Paddy Flanagan With His Wife Alice

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Shay O'Hanlon 1961 Cycling Season By Paddy Hoare

Shay O'Hanlon, Dublin

For some years past it has been customary to select the top stars, in the various sports, by the top sporting journalists in their own field. When it comes to cycling for 1961 there is only one star – Shay O’Hanlon of the Clann Brugha Club Dublin.

During last year, O’Hanlon was week after week in the news and the results of his endeavours have carved another niche in the Annals of the National Cycling Association.

In a short but brilliant career, O’Hanlon has proved himself the perfect bike rider. He can win overall mediums- track, road and time trials. This he has proven since he first took up the sport a few short years ago.

His success can be termed phenomenal. But this success, or can we turn it climbing to the top of the tree, has he yet reached it? I doubt it; can be fully gleaned from his great devotion to training and his avid love of the sport.
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Keith Butler Surrey League 1938-2019

Keith Butler 1964

THE exploits of south London's Butler family have loomed large in the pages of Cycling Weekly for over 65 years. It all began with Stan Butler, the Olympian and time trial champion. He was followed by son Keith who won two national road race titles.
Today, the Butler family tradition is carried on by Gethin Butler, the road and time trial star.

Although Keith Butler retired from the sport some 30 years ago, he is still an influential figure, serving on the British Cycling Federation's National Board and organising the Surrey League - which makes him Britain's most prolific promoter of road races.
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The Mythical Legend That Is The Rás By Tommy Evans

Rás Winner Tommy Evans Derry Clarke Brothers With The George Plant Trophy

The Rás has a deep ingrained history within Irish Cycling, form growing up as an underage rider I loved to hear the stories of the Rás, the great men that race had some amazing stories to tell, I didn’t care if they where true or false I knew I had to conquer it.

As a 14 year old I knew from then that I loved stage racing everyday gave you an opportunity to win, rectify your mistake from the day before, out do an opponent more miles on the clock.

Roll onto 1992 my first taste of the Ras as a 19year old full of confidence and no fear, taking on a 9-day stage race, the longest race I’d ever ridden!!

We had the Italians who just looked the business, they had amazing kit, fantastic bikes, they even smelt nice!!!

While here I was amongst all the other county teams fighting to survive, a few occasions seen me over zealous on some of the descents ending up in the ditch on more than one occasion!!!

I always remember being in a crash with Tosh Lavery who was well bashed up but being harder than nails he just got stitched up and rode on!! At 19 you look at this and realise no-one likes to quit this race no matter what.
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John O'Hallorans Rás Storey 1992
If Im honest ; I was hooked from the start . The first story of the Ras ,the first time seeing a stage end , the thought of being in it I was hooked.

I got my chance in 1992. My club NT Oranmore would enter team for the first time. Apart from our mechanic Johnny Varley and the highly experienced Colm Bracken we were all new to this. there was Nick Holland [Nick the fish] and no, I have no idea why he was called that, Dave Nugent who remains a great friend and I.

Dave was 20 and I was 19 Nick was and still is ageless. The common thought around Galway was we would never finish it.

Gerry McEnerney had put his skills,organisation and boundless love of cycling into getting us there. The sense of occasion at the evening sign on was immense . There was a mix of nerves and old friends meeting.

I sat and tried to look as if I belonged ,as established internationals, foreign managers , the UK riders,tanned and seriously lean Italian and Belgians sauntered in.

My goal was simple enough " get around", hopefully in one piece and if at all possible get to the front , try to get in a break and have a" good go " on the stage 2 into Oughterard Galway.

Ahh , the innocence youth, looking back at now ; little did I know then. More>>>

Seamus Kennedy Winner Of The Health Race Rás Tailteann1978

Seamus Kennedy

When Seamus Kennedy won Irish cycling’s greatest prize, the Rás Tailteann, in 1978, he declared that he had achieved his life’s ambition, and that he was going to retire.

“I’m finished now. I will retire at the end of the season. I have won everything I can,” he is quoted as saying in July 1978. But that was never going to happen. Kennedy’s passion for cycling was such that he would never retire from the saddle. Fr Stan Deegan, PP, Kilcloon, celebrating his funeral Mass last week, said that Seamus Kennedy had never envisaged finishing early, withdrawing from the action. But he had lived a full and complete life, Fr Deegan continued. Kennedy passed away on Monday of last week, following illness. he was aged 65. More>>>

‘The Rás – The Story of Ireland’s Unique Bike Race’

The 2019 cycling season passed in Ireland without our beloved Rás Tailteann stage race for the first time since 1953. The recent press release announcing its return in 2020 came as a welcome relief to all concerned.

The preservation of the race itself is not the only thing at stake as an annual Rás is crucial in sustaining a vibrant racing calendar and the ongoing development of the sport is dependent on this.

However, there is still the somewhat contentious question about which type of Rás best serves that secondary purpose of promoting the overall best interests of Irish cycling: the so-called ‘old’ Rás, prior to the event’s inclusion in the UCI calendar in 2000, or that ‘new’ Rás we have seen from then to 2018. More>>>