What's On: Get your bike out for this unique public arts event in Carlow

Carlow cycling enthusiasts and local families are being encouraged by Carlow Arts Festival and Carlow Sports Partnership to get on their bikes in Carlow for 'Cycles'.

'Cylcles' is a unique arts participation project that will take place on Sunday, 24th September in County Carlow.

The event begins with registration at 10:30 am at Duckett’s Grove before setting off for a leisurely 18km cycle suitable for all cycling abilities.

Participants will listen to a specially-created audio piece via an app they will download onto their phone. 

The experience has been developed by artists, Michelle Browne and Eszter Némethi, with the support of community members from Rathvilly, Graiguecullen, Tullow and Hacketstown.

Through a series of workshops, they have been looking back to 1923 and imagining our future in 2123.

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. “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 300 or so adventure-seeking participants.”

There will be something for all on the day including an audio guide along the route, kids cycling options, choral music and a BBQ which is included on the price of your ticket.

This once-off experience will be led and stewarded by Carlow Sports Partnership and Carlow Road Cycling Club with Gardai managing the rolling road closures, 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 specially- commissioned song for this project created with Carlow musicians Ye Vagabonds. It’s a really gorgeous song that is inspired by the texts written during the workshops we did in Hacketstown, Rathvilly, Tullow and Graiguecullen. Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn, being from the Long Mile Road, grew up cycling the roads we’ll be cycling on the route so were the perfect pair to write this special song,” Orlaith Treacy revealed.

The cost for the event, including BBQ, is €5 for adults and €2 for children

There will also be a shuttle bus available to and from the event at an additional €2 per head from Tullow, Rathvilly, Hacketstown and Graiguecullen.

You can also borrow a bike with a limited number of bikes are available for both adults and kids on the day.

For more information, click HERE