Leitrim Cycling Festival invited to Ballinamore : May 19 -21

Every year Leitrim Cycling Festival seeks to showcase the cycling potential and talented community of a different town or village in the county.

But as Jo Sachs-Eldridge, founder/organiser of Leitrim Cycling Festival, explains “This year is a little different as for the first time a community has invited our roving festival to take over their town for a weekend of celebrations and cycling. And the community couldn't have been more welcoming! We are so excited to share all of this with our festival goers."

Ballinamore-Mohill Greenway Community Action Group, an Innovating Communities Project, contacted Leitrim Cycling Festival last year to request the festival be based in Ballinamore in 2023.

Together with Ballinamore Tidy Towns, the Island Theatre, Leitrim Sports Partnership, the Scouts Den, Ballinamore Area Community Council, Fenagh Visitor Centre and others a full weekend of events has been planned for all to enjoy.

Ballinamore already has a beautiful stretch of Greenway from the Scouts Den and a Blueway running along the canal towards Aghoo. The Ballinamore-Mohill Greenway Community Action Group would like to see these extended to enable more people to cycle and to cater for more and longer journeys.

Jennie O'Hara, from the Ballinamore-Mohill Greenway Community Action Group, hopes that “by hosting Leitrim Cycling Festival in Ballinamore we can bring together those from near and far who are keen to see more safe, accessible walking and cycling routes to enjoy.”

The weekend celebrations start on Friday, 19th May with a lap of the town, followed by the official launch by Cathaoirleach Ita Reynolds and Sean O'Suillebhain in the Island Theatre.

Following the launch everyone is welcome to join the feast and screening of the film 'Women Don't Cycle' documenting what it's like to cycle in different countries as a woman. After the film there will be an opportunity to enjoy the exhibition launch in Solas Art Gallery and a trad session in Shortts pub.

On Saturday, 20th May there will be a Dr Bike Session and a Bicycle Haiku Workshop in the morning, followed by the 5km Integrated Community Cycle for All along the Greenway with a stop for a picnic and Jay Ryan's amazing Flea Circus on the way. There will also be free ice-cream at the end thanks to the Leitrim-West Cavan Branch of DSI.

On the Saturday afternoon there will be a balance bike workshop, the sharing of inspiring cycle touring in Oman and fatbiking in Finland, art workshops, the annual slow bicycle race, woodfired Italian pizza, a games night for all the family and music in McGirl's pub.

On Sunday, 21st May there will be another cycle for all with the Intergenerational Cycle along the Blueway to Aghoo. For those who continue on to Fenagh Visitor Centre there will be free tea and scones. And for the closing tea there will be Ukrainian sweet treats for all to share.

All events are free thanks to the generous sponsorship of BikeWeek, Leitrim Sports Partnership, Leitrim County Council and Leitrim Tourism.

For more information search for Leitrim Cycling Festival on Facebook or go to www.leitrimcycling
festival.com