CYCLE: Cathal Walshe pictured with Bridget and Conor O'Connell preparing for this year's virtual Ring of Kerry Cycle. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

There could be way more entries than ever before as this year's Ring of Kerry Cycle is now open to even more people. Continued COVID restrictions means that there'll be no physical Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle for a second year running - but organisers have come up with a new and novel event.

As the '170km My Way' event is now virtual participants can take on the challenge themselves in their own localities - cycling the equivalent of the Ring of Kerry over 30 days. It can be done in a day, over a week or a month on your own doorstep as it were.

As June 3 is World Bike Day, this is the proposed start day with a completion date of July 3 - the date that would coincide with the actual cycle if it were on this year.

"It's a consolation event due to COVID," Cathal Walshe from the organising committee told the Killarney Advertiser.

​​​​​​​"We've had, in the past, 21 countries taking part. This now facilitates people in their own area and they have 30 days to complete it so don't have to train."

Registration for the event will open on May 1 on the ringofkerrycycle.ie website with a registration fee of €35 plus handling fees and it'll include a top quality T-Shirt with 170km printed on the front and back and €15 for your chosen charity.

This year's charities include Ard Churam in Listowel, Down Syndrome Kerry, St Francis Special School, Cunamh Iveragh, Breakthrough Cancer Research, Irish Heart Foundation, Alzheimer's Society Ireland together with the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle.

"Charities are very badly hit by COVID and this is a way of supporting them. The committee would like everyone to get up on their bikes during the month of June and cycle the distance in your own area for your chosen charity," he said. "All charities will have their own iDonate page and cyclists can set up an iDonate page themselves. This event should also appeal to the corporate sector getting their employees involved for charity."