Latest news with #RasTailteann
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Two WorldTour entrants taking to the line at Cycling Ireland national road race championships in Navan
With Sam Bennett, Ben Healy, Eddie Dunbar and Archie Ryan all out due to team duties or elsewhere, the race has just two WorldTour entrants in Ryan Mullen (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) and reigning champion Darren Rafferty (EF Education), although the rise of U23 stars Adam Rafferty (Jayco Hagens Bermans), Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain victorious development team) and Liam O'Brien (Lidl Trek Development Team) as well as the presence of former champion Rory Townsend (Q36.5) former Ras Tailteann winners Dillon Corkery (St Michel Auber 93) and Daire Feeley (Burren CC), among others, means the duo won't have things their own way. 'It is less stacked than previous years,' three time winner Mullen says of the men's start list. 'But it doesn't really change the nature of the race. It's always really aggressive. It just means that the lead group will be missing the horsepower of three or four WorldTour riders but I don't think it'll change the dynamic of the race too much. "Nationals is a funny race. It follows the same protocol every year. If you're not in that move when it goes, then you can kiss goodbye to any chance of a result, so I just have to be vigilant on that first lap and make sure I'm in that deciding move, whenever it does go, and even then you still have to be on the front foot for most of the day.' Although born in England, Mullen has been taking the ferry with his Duleek-born father to race in Ireland since he was an underage rider and the seven time elite national time trial champion is looking forward to riding in front of a large family contingent in Navan on Sunday and would love to add a record-equalling fourth road title to his impressive CV. 'The whole family is going to be out,' he laughs. 'I've family in Drogheda, Navan, Slane, so they'll all be out. I had a little drive around the course when I landed the other day and my dad was pointing out all the gardens he had played in when he was a kid so if there's ever a nationals I'd like to win it'd be this one.' The course should suit his powerhouse style, although a crash in crosswinds at the Tour of Hungary about a month ago means he is still on the mend. 'I did a bit of damage to myself in Hungary alright,' he admits, 'but there was power in the legs on Thursday night, so I'm just going to go in as I always do and see what the day brings.'
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Green light for statue of legendary Kerry cyclist Mick ‘Ironman' Murphy
It is now hoped that this will be achieved with a specially designed statue of the legend in his home town of Cahersiveen. Such a statue will put Mick Murphy up there alongside other renowned Kerry legends not least the late Mick O'Dwyer whose statue stands proud in Waterville as does one of John Egan in Sneem. It has been the long-held dream of a local committee comprised of friends of the legendary cyclist to honour Mick's achievements as an athlete and they have now been given the green light to erect this statue but they are some way off finalising their plans yet. It has been hoped to have the statue put in place this year to mark the 10th anniversary of this death but this now won't be possible as it is hoped to get grant aid to help towards the cost. However, Kerry County Council have given a provisional green light for the statue in the town park in Cahersiveen. This is good news for the committee who will now move towards the next stage which is to get funds together. Substantial funds have already been raised to date through a local cycle that ran for many years in his honour and these combined with grant aid will hopefully help the statue come to fruition. Mike Greaney, who came up with the idea of the cycle and statue, and has played a key role in the project said it is good news that the council have agreed in principle to the idea but he said more work has to be done. "As of a few weeks ago we got a letter of approval for the statue in the town park subject to the design and now paperwork will be put in order for grant-aid.' Cllr Norma Moriarty had called on Kerry County Council to work with the local committee to make this project a reality and is hopeful that more support will be forthcoming to honour one of the county's greatest. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Mick 'The Ironman' Murphy is part and parcel of the sporting history in Kerry given his awe-inspiring feats he accomplished chief among them to come from nowhere to win the Ras Tailteann back in 1958. He was born in Sugreana, Cahersiveen in 1934 into a farming family and in his youth and teenager years he became interested in bodybuilding and strong men and circus acts and made an income from circus feats. Ultimately he also took up running and he excelled in that too but turned to cycling and became the legend he is today. The stories that surround Mick Murphy known as 'The Ironman' are legendary as the man himself but many though unique are indeed true including that he rode for several days with a broken collar bone. He also drank cow's blood and ate raw meat and trained with weights made from stone.
