ABOUT the EVENT Press Release. 2 Docx (1)

Press Release Tuesday June 30th 2015 For preliminary release In The “Wheelrims” of William Bulfin “ A Pioneer of High Nelly Heritage Cycling The Derrinlough (Co. Offaly) to Durrow (Co. Laois) High Nelly Heritage Cycle is a 110k, 2 day adventure that retraces one of William Bulfin’s, “R ambles in Eireann” bicycle journeys, visiting the Heritage towns of Birr, R oscrea and Abbeyleix, and like Bulfin, delighting in the heritage of the Irish countryside, embracing the historical importanc e of the “Book of Dimma” and the “Rock of Dunamaise” before pushing on to the historic and picturesque town of Durrow, Co. Laois where William Bulfin lingered on h is bicycle journey in 1902, describing this lovely town as “A Gem in the Basin of the Nore”. The Derrinlough to Durrow High Nelly Heritage Cycle will be held on Saturday August 29 th and Sunday August 30 th 2015 as part of the National Heritag e Week series of ev ents. At the turn of the last century, in a time when the bicycle was still viewed as somewhat of a wonder in Rural Ireland, a man named William Bulfin braved the sometimes hazardous weather conditions and rough terrain of the Irish countryside to complete a three thousand mile round trip on his brand new High Nelly bike, purchased from Pierce Engineering in Wexford. The big man from Derrinlough in Co. Offaly pushed his strong steel-framed bicycle, mile after mile on the roads of Ireland, conquering everything in his path and returning home to a hero’ s welcome in the winter of 1902. In 1907 Bulfin published “Rambles in Eirinn”, a travelogue about this unique cycling adventure, that encapsulated the rich beauty of the Irish landscape and the historical importance of places such as Tara, Skryne Valley, Vinegar Hill, the Rock of Dunamaise, Roscrea Castle and other historical sites. For him these places were sacred ground, evidence of an Irish heritage that existed long, long before his time. Having completed over 3000 miles of this daunting adventure, recording on his journey one of Ireland’s earliest cycling “road books”, William Bulfin could truly be regarded as a pioneer of Irish High Nelly Heritage cycling. Now, a group of high nelly cyclists and heritage enthusiasts have come together to pay tribute to this man and his unique adventure. The Derrinlough to Durrow High Nelly Heritage Cycle Schedule: Day 1: Depart: Derrinlough Co Offaly @ 11.30am --- Birr --- Roscrea, Via Ballaghmore, Camross, Arrive: Srahan Activity Centre (Ov ernight) Distance 53K Day 2: Depart: Srahan @ 11.30am, Camross; Mountrath, (Rock of Dunamaise), Ballyroan, Abbeyleix Arrive: Durrow Co. Laois. Distance 57K For further particulars please contact: Hugh Sheppard 086 8694691. Matt Doyle 086 0537356 Noel Mooney 087 9517311 Email:[email protected] Follow us on Facebook: @ http:// facebook.com/Culture Trails.ie and Twitter@bulfincycle ENDS.

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The Derrinlough (Co. Offaly) to Durrow (Co. Laois) High Nelly Heritage Cycle is a 110k, 2 day adventure that retraces one of William Bulfin’s, “Rambles in Eireann” bicycle journeys, visiting the Heritage towns of Birr, Roscrea and Abbeyleix, and like Bulfin, delighting in the heritage of the Irish countryside, embracing the historical importance of the “Book of Dimma” and the “Rock of Dunamaise” before pushing on to the historic and picturesque town of Durrow, Co. Laois where William Bulfin lingered on his bicycle journey in 1902, describing this lovely town as “A Gem in the Basin of the Nore”.

Transcript of ABOUT the EVENT Press Release. 2 Docx (1)

Press Release

Tuesday June 30th 2015

For preliminary release

In The Wheelrims of William Bulfin

A Pioneer of High Nelly Heritage Cycling

The Derrinlough (Co. Offaly) to Durrow (Co. Laois) High Nelly Heritage Cycle is a 110k, 2 day adventure that retraces

one of William Bulfins, Rambles in Eireann bicycle journeys, visiting the Heritage towns of Birr, Roscrea and

Abbeyleix, and like Bulfin, delighting in the heritage of the Irish countryside, embracing the historical importance of

the Book of Dimma and the Rock of Dunamaise before pushing on to the historic and picturesque town of Durrow,

Co. Laois where William Bulfin lingered on his bicycle journey in 1902, describing this lovely town as A Gem in the

Basin of the Nore.

The Derrinlough to Durrow High Nelly Heritage Cycle will be held on Saturday August 29th

and Sunday August 30th

2015 as part of the National Heritage Week series of events.

At the turn of the last century, in a time when the bicycle was still viewed as somewhat of a wonder in Rural Ireland, a

man named William Bulfin braved the sometimes hazardous weather conditions and rough terrain of the Irish

countryside to complete a three thousand mile round trip on his brand new High Nelly bike, purchased from Pierce

Engineering in Wexford.

The big man from Derrinlough in Co. Offaly pushed his strong steel-framed bicycle, mile after mile on the roads of

Ireland, conquering everything in his path and returning home to a heros welcome in the winter of 1902. In 1907

Bulfin published Rambles in Eirinn, a travelogue about this unique cycling adventure, that encapsulated the rich

beauty of the Irish landscape and the historical importance of places such as Tara, Skryne Valley, Vinegar Hill, the

Rock of Dunamaise, Roscrea Castle and other historical sites. For him these places were sacred ground, evidence of an

Irish heritage that existed long, long before his time.

Having completed over 3000 miles of this daunting adventure, recording on his journey one of Irelands earliest cycling

road books, William Bulfin could truly be regarded as a pioneer of Irish High Nelly Heritage cycling. Now, a group

of high nelly cyclists and heritage enthusiasts have come together to pay tribute to this man and his unique adventure.

The Derrinlough to Durrow High Nelly Heritage Cycle Schedule:

Day 1: Depart: Derrinlough Co Offaly @ 11.30am --- Birr --- Roscrea,

Via Ballaghmore, Camross, Arrive: Srahan Activity Centre (Overnight) Distance 53K

Day 2: Depart: Srahan @ 11.30am, Camross; Mountrath, (Rock of Dunamaise), Ballyroan, Abbeyleix

Arrive: Durrow Co. Laois. Distance 57K

For further particulars please contact: Hugh Sheppard 086 8694691. Matt Doyle 086 0537356 Noel Mooney 087 9517311

Email:[email protected]

Follow us on Facebook: @ http:// facebook.com/Culture Trails.ie and Twitter@bulfincycle

ENDS.