WHAT'S ON: Cycling and arts event around one of Carlow's most popular attraction

Leisure cycling enthusiasts and families with an interest in culture and the arts are urged to get on their bikes as the school holidays kick off and join the rescheduled ‘Cycles’ event in Carlow on Sunday, July 14. The fun, family and community-focused joint Carlow Arts Festival and Carlow Sports Partnership initiative explores language, history, landscape and cycling.

The cycling and arts event begins with registration at 10:30 am at Ducketts Grove and will take participants on a leisurely, looped cycle through the stunning surrounding landscape as they listen to a specially-created audio piece via an app they will download onto their phone. Pre-registration is advised as places are limited and can be booked now on Buy Tickets – CYCLES – Ducketts Grove (tickettailor.com)

A nominal fee of €5 per adult, €2 per child also covers a post cycle barbecue. The main cycle is 18km long with a refreshment stop along the route and there is also a shorter option of 3km. Bikes and e-bikes will be available to hire for the event and some hand cycles, trikes and rickshaws will also be available to use.

This unique experience was developed by renowned artists, Michelle Browne and Eszter Némethi with community members from Rathvilly, Graiguecullen, Tullow and Hacketstown also playing a key role in developing the Cycles event and the entertainment on the day. Through a series of workshops, the participants have been looking back to 1923 and imagining our future in 2123.

Project partners working to make it an extra special day for all include County Carlow Sports Partnership, Carlow Road Cycling Club, Carlow Arts Office, Carlow County Development Partnership CLG, Carlow County Library and Carlow County Museum.

Artist, Michelle Browne, said it will be a fun, family-friendly event and encourages the culturally curious and those with a spirit of adventure to come along. “This collective cycling experience will be an 18km loop with an audio piece that shapes people’s experience of the cycle with some other surprises along the way. Towards the end of the cycle, Carlow Community Choir will sing a special song created by Carlow musicians Ye Vagabonds for this project inspired by the texts created during the workshops.

“This event was to run in September of last year but had to be postponed because of bad weather. We’ve pulled out all the stops and we are inviting everyone to take part in a collective cycling experience. Beginning at 10:30am at Ducketts Grove, people can come and register for the cycling loop.

“We will be asking participants to download a specially created app onto their phone which will be triggered into playing an audio piece when you cycle past key locations. Everyone will be given a special high-vis for their journey making it a fun and safe experience. We will set off on our adventure from 11:45am and hope to attract several hundred adventure-seeking participants.”

This once-off experience will be led and stewarded by Carlow Sports Partnership and Carlow Road Cycling Club with Gardai, Orlaith Treacy, Creative Producer with Carlow Arts Festival, said as she revealed some of the exciting elements of the arts participation event.

“Along the route, there will be some unexpected installations for cyclists to enjoy. We will have a refreshment stop along the route to keep everyone hydrated. For children or those who might not feel able to do the full 18km, there’s a shorter 3km option so all can enjoy the experience. Inside Ducketts Grove, there will be a loop inside the walled garden for young children to cycle and other games and activities.

“As the cyclists return to Ducketts Grove, Carlow Community Choir will perform a really gorgeous song that is inspired by the texts written during the workshops we did in Hacketstown, Rathvilly, Tullow and Graiguecullen.”

Cycles is part of ART:2023, a Decade Of Centenaries programme, presented by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon in association with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This event has been funded in part by Creative Ireland, Carlow County Council Arts Office and Healthy Ireland.