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Aoibhín Garrihy with her niece Zoe, Sean Kelly, Ann Norton, Mayor of Ennis and Paul Sheridan with Joey O’Gorman at the official launch of the 17th Annual Tour de Munster cycle in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) and individual beneficiaries hosted at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Picture: Keith Wiseman
OVER 100 amateur cyclists, including cycling legend Sean Kelly, will overnight in Tralee on the 17th annual Tour de Munster this August.
Held in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland and individual beneficiaries, the event was launched at Bunratty Castle recently by Sean Kelly and actress Aoibhín Garrihy of Dancing With The Stars fame.
The four day charity cycle, takes place from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th August, and will see over 100 amateur cyclists cycle over 600km around the six counties of Munster, raising funds for the Munster branches of DSI and individual beneficiaries.
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Aoibhín Garrihy with her niece Zoe pictured at the launch. Picture: Keith Wiseman
The cycle will take in overnight stop in Tralee on Friday, August 11 after passing through Tarbert and Listowel.
The following morning the cyclists will set off to the Dingle peninsula to Stradbally, Dingle, Castlemaine and Milltown before on to Killarney and Kenmare that afternoon.
This is the 8th successive year that the national charity has been the beneficiary of the popular cycle. A new addition to this year’s Tour de Munster is the option for cyclists to select their own beneficiary and raise funds and awareness for it.
Fundraising can include personal sponsorship, but also commercial sponsorship whereby a sponsor logo placement will accompany a donation attracted by that participant.
The 2016 cycle raised €285,655 for the charity, resulting in over €1.9 million raised for DSI alone.
Since its inception in 2001, Tour de Munster has raised over €2.4 million for its beneficiaries. Over the partnership’s history, Tour de Munster has developed close ties and formed lasting friendships with DSI, with many of the charity’s parents and friends participating in the cycle year after year. The aim this year is to raise a further €250,000 for DSI.
Funds raised have made a tremendous difference to the lives of people with Down Syndrome in Munster, as well as their friends and families by providing vital services and facilities in each county.
