MINI RING CYCLE: With the help of comedian Bernard Casey, St Francis Special School in Beaufort organised their own special Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle on the Saint Mary of the Angels campus on Tuesday. Cyclists included children, Rhys O’Mahony, Emma Murphy, Hugh McCarthy, along with staff, Emma Cremin, Fiona Carroll, Mary O’Riordan. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

By Michelle Crean

It was a scaled down version of the Ring of Kerry Cycle – but it brought sheer delight to over 50 children in one local school on Tuesday.

Pupils from St Francis Special School, one of the main beneficiaries of this year’s Ring of Kerry Cycle (RoK), excitedly took part in the event and passed along the iconic stops along the way including the Cahersiveen food station, Coomakista for a set dance and the all-important medical station.

The event, which started at 11am, saw the children undertake the 1km cycle of the ‘Ring’ alongside teachers and others, on the grounds of St Mary’s of the Angels campus which they share.

“They can’t cycle the Ring so we brought the Ring to them,” Fiona Carroll, who was one of the main organisers of the event, told the Killarney Advertiser.

St Francis Special School provides educational services to pupils aged between four and 18 years who have been assessed to have a moderate, severe or profound general learning disability.

“It was about our children experiencing the world for themselves.”

And everything on the day was a mini version of the real RoK including the official start line brought by Padraig Treacy, David O’Sullivan Cycles gave the use of bikes to accommodate those who couldn’t cycle themselves, Paul Curtis looked after the repair station, Denis Daly took care of the Cahersiveen food station, as well as Radio Kerry’s Brendan Fuller from Killarney, while comedian Bernard Casey kept them all laughing.

“We had brack and bananas – all the things you typically see on the cycle.”

Organisers even found a way to recreate the height at Coomakista, which is the hardest part of the real cycle.

“We found a bit of height at the grotto and one of the teachers made up a road sign and they did set dancing there.”

Cathal Walshe who is infamous with the annual RoK summer cycle was MC on the day.

“He gave a running commentary. He made it sound so real calling the children by their names. It was absolutely brilliant. It was one of those days that gave us a lift.”

She added that the children each received a RoK community garda medal for their participation.

“We’re going to keep it going and complete the 175km Ring of Kerry over the coming months. We are also going to contact companies to sponsor a child.”