The Tour de Ballyfinnane charity cycle returns on Saturday, April, 18 with two routes designed for cyclists of all abilities.

Departing from Ballyfinnane Community Hall at 10 am, participants can choose between a 70 km course or a shorter 45 km option.

Registration is available online at www.tourdeballyfinnane.ie or in person at the hall from 8 am to 9:45 am on the morning of the event.

Now a fixture on the local sporting calendar, the cycle concludes with a barbecue and refreshments at The Shanty, an aspect of the day that has become a major draw for both riders and supporters.

Proceeds from this year’s event are earmarked for essential upgrades at Ballyfinnane Community Hall. Built in 1984 through voluntary local labour, the hall remains a central hub for yoga, dancing, and music sessions.

The immediate fundraising priority is the installation of wheelchair-accessible toilets to ensure the facility meets modern inclusive standards.

Creative Bathrooms is the main sponsor for the 2026 edition. Local businesses wishing to provide further sponsorship or support can contact the organising committee via the Tour de Ballyfinnane Facebook or Instagram pages.

Kilcummin native and Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly has issued a fresh call to end the biannual clock change across Europe.

As clocks are set to move forward one hour tonight, the Kerry representative believes this should be the final time the practice occurs.

He is urging the Irish Government to use its upcoming EU Presidency to finally break the deadlock on the issue.

Kelly has led the European Parliament’s push for this reform for nearly seventeen years. He argues that the shift to brighter evenings is something the Irish public values for mental and physical health.

According to Kelly, the “grand stretch in the evenings” lifts the mood and encourages outdoor activity.

He described the twice-yearly switch as an outdated practice that no longer makes sense in a modern context.

The European Commission first proposed ending the change in 2018 after a public consultation showed 84 percent of 4.6 million citizens supported the move.

While the European Parliament backed the proposal in 2019, EU Member States have yet to reach a final agreement.

Kelly noted that a recent push by Denmark in late 2025 failed to resolve the matter, but he believes Irish leadership can provide the necessary political will.