Lough Derg RNLI’s Lap Of The Lake Cycle Returns In May

Cyclists are being invited to take on one of the most scenic challenges in the region this may is the

Ornali's popular lap of the Lake Charity cycle returns to

Lockdurg differing routes for that and the event will see participants traveling through Clare Tiberary and Galway all while raising vital funds for the

Ornali's life-saving work and on the line to tell us more is Lockdurg Ornali

a lifeboat press officer Eleanor Hooker. Eleanor, thanks for being with us on the show.

Thank you very much. Good morning.

Good morning to you at the lap of Lake Cycle returning this May. Can you tell people what they can expect from this year's event?

Yes, due to popular demand it's come back and there are two routes. There's 120 kilometre route which is

circling navigate the lake and as you said goes through Tiberary, Clare and Galway and then there's a shorter

route, a 65 kilometre route and there's a turn around to Clare Lue and the participants go back to

Germany or back to the Ocklub and back to the lifeboat station. All of the details about how to

reserve a spot or on the eventbrite page or on Lockdurg Ornali's Facebook page so if you need any

details or you have any questions just drop us a message and we'll be delighted to help.

The longer route is 65 kilometres or 65 years to register and the shorter route is 50

years to register and it's all in a good cause because the Ornali depends entirely on public

contributions to keep us afloat and the support is phenomenal. Over the last few years,

hundreds of cyclists have come to our region and discovered the beauty of our the lake and the

river Shannon and it's a joy to welcome people back each year and then to meet new participants.

Laura Clarke is the chairperson of the the fundraising committee who's organizing this and it's

a mammoth amount of work but she the safety of the riders and the cyclists is paramount so she's

first daters and there's pit stops along the way there's food she's marshals on the road because

this year the cyclists will be going over the new bridge because the old bridge is now pedestrian

only so it's it's a well organized machine and then at the end all of the cyclists come back to

drum and air to the aqua over the lifeboat station and it's very celebratory the spoon there's

beverages and there's chat and it's a great event and you know people of all

talents and even e-bikes are welcome you know it's it's it's it's not a waste it's a participant and

there's an amazing first guest from previous years if you go to our Facebook page you see them

with them blessed with good weather so we're playing like crazy that's the weather

content that we have a great yeah and I did wonder yeah because it's so many selling points to

this obviously the location around there stunning and taking in the three counties be beautiful

for a cycle it's not competitive so you can kind of take your time out and really take in your

surroundings obviously the the the coming up in May you're hopeful for good weather and for the

for those who participate I just won Dreliner you know at at the end of as you say there's a chance

for everyone to kind of there's good kind of camaraderie as well afterwards oh yeah yeah I mean

you know everybody comes and even when people are cycling so getting ready you see all of the

different clubs from the entire island or wearing their colors and they're all cycling in groups

and they're supporting one another I have to say that registration for the event takes place on

Friday the 15th of May from 6 to 8 and then on Saturday morning from 7 30 to 8 40 and you know

everybody's welcome come along we we just want to see all of our previous participants come back

and we welcome you joiners too it's it's it's just a great event and you know the entire community

gets together this is what we love about us and people just volunteer their time and their efforts

and even people who are not you know members of the operational team but people will get to meet

the crew because they'll be going from station station the lifeboat and they'll get to meet the

cyclists as well so you can see what you're contributing towards what your your fundraising is buying

which is a both you and the best kitchen training for a crew our local company Abby machinery

are our main sponsors this year which is fantastic and I thanks to them as well because all of this

just it orchestrates the most fantastic event and as you mentioned on an event like this

is is crucial in in bringing in money vital funding for the ORNLI which I guess you know

may perhaps there's an element of frustration that you do have to fundraise rather than you know

receiving fund from central government can you explain how important events like this are for

funding your work to allow you to continue the crucial work that you do all year round

well absolutely and the the ORNLI is a charity and it's entirely dependent on public contributions

for its service and so it's it's fundraising is it's just the backbone it's of the organization

and the fundraisers and work the way quite great all year round you know you see the crew

in their cash and you you hear about the rescues but the fundraisers are there's in all

others fundraising and it's very important and actually you know our local community all around the

lake know what we do we know they know that there are people who are living their best lives right

now and who might not have been had their life would not been there so the contributions are

will willingly given but we don't take anything for granted and the charity spends that money very

wisely you know there's constant research and development of cash and post call and training

so that when when crew go out it's muscle memory you know they go out and do the rescue and bring

everybody home and you know the crew are also volunteers are people who leave their jobs and leave

their beds and cold winter nights to go out and help people they've never met before me never

meet again so it's it's I think it's a phenomenal organization I'm I'm committed in the way well

yeah well look I does many many who would agree with you those who have availed who've

needed the services the Orvan of the Ornalai and others as well and the fact that it's the lap

of the lake cycle isn't a competitive event Eleanor does that mean you do get more experience

cyclists taking part but also it's it's very suitable for for first time cyclists are those who

just you know they want they're not trying to break any world records they want to take it at

their own pace and take in all the stunning scenery that's around there absolutely I mean

you know you see the professional the fighters when fighting clubs and then you see others

who get together and man together and you know the shorter route is aimed at people who are

core fist but who are not the cyclists who go to every event in Ireland and Europe and so that's

shorter and route it suits them there is one climb up and pour through hill but when you get to

the summit you look down and it's blissful into the wind down the other side so and that's lovely

and then and truly sailing club is quite close to that location so people can stop and there's

you know some of the best papers in Ireland provide spoons and cakes it's it's wonderful and there's

all you know healthy stuff bananas and nutrition bars and energy drinks so it's really well-cated for

okay it sounds like it's going to be yet another grace year for the event just a reminder before

I let you go in or as to how people can register or take part yes if you go to the event

like page and look up lap lap the lake doctor or in a lie or if you come to our Facebook page

we've each other and we will we will be posting that every couple of weeks so people can see

if you any queries at all just send a message to the Facebook page and we'll get back to you

you know we'll get back to you with it if we don't know we'll find somebody who does

so just make contact with yes it's very open okay well look at the best to look with it so I'm

sure to log off very successfully Eleanor Hooker there from the Lockdurg or in a lie

lifeboat service with us on Friday's morning focus