Celebrating National Heritage Week

Srahan Activity Centre Facility (Courtesy of 6th Roscrea Scouts) Indoor Sleeping Accommodation for up to 50 people.

Camping Space for up to 250.

Toilets & Showers (6 in all) including wheelchair toilet and

shower.

Oil fired central heating through-out.

Fully Equipped Kitchen (Gas Cookers) Split Sitting & Dining area with Open Fire in both areas.

Wet Weather & Activity Shelter.

TV available for use.

30ft x 30ft covered Camp Fire area.

.Available for Bookings.

Contact Person Francis Minogue Email srahanscoutcentre@gmail.com. or (086) 2211227, alternate number (086) 8036000

Please, do not contact the above number for bookings or

information regarding the High Nelly Heritage Cycle.

From

Derrinlough to Durrow (Co. Offaly) (Co. Laois)

High Nelly Heritage Cycle (In the Wheelrims of William Bulfin (1864-1910)

110K 2Day Event

Saturday August 29th

& Sunday August 30th

2015 (National Heritage Week)

A Gently Paced Irish Country Roads & Culture Trail

Derrinlough to Durrow Co. Offaly Co. Laois

High Nelly Heritage Cycle August 29th & 30th

Details: Day 1:

Depart Derrinlough at 11.30am

by kind permission of the Bulfin family.

Travelling to Birr: (Welcome address by

Margaret Hogan, Historian).

Roscrea (Heritage information point)

Light refreshments served.

Via Ballaghmore to Camross (short break).

Arrival: Srahan Scout Activity Centre.

(Meal and overnight stay at Srahan).

Heritage Sites of Laois: Presentation.

Distance: 53K approx.

Details: Day 2:

Leaving Srahan @ 11.30am

Camross: (Short interlude at The Poets Cottage ).

Via Mountrath Portlaoise.

Rock of Dunamaise (heritage information point). light refreshments served.

Via Ballyroan to Abbeyleix (heritage information point).

Arrival: Durrow: (Group photo on arrival).

Distance 57K approx.

An Evening of Irish Culture, Music, Song and

Dance at Durrows unique riverside setting.

CultureTrails.ie

Who Was William Bulfin?

William Bulfin was a journalist, travel writer

and proud Irish Nationalist, who was born in

Derrinlough, Co Offaly in 1864. Having returned

from Argentina in 1902, where he worked on

the pampas amongst the native gaucho or

cowboy tribe, he set off on a journey that took

him through the highways and byways of

Ireland on a steel framed bicycle made by Pierce

of Wexford. Rambles in Eirinn is an insightful

book written by William Bulfin about his cycling

experience. The travelogue was published in

1907 and proved to be a resounding success,

extending to a fourth edition, published in 1915.

The book paints a vivid picture of the history

and heritage of the Irish countryside, just after

the turn of the 20th century. Bulfin had an

intimate knowledge of the Irish landscape along

with an innate passion for the historical

importance and heritage value of places such as

Tara, Skryne Valley, Vinegar Hill, the old

Monastery of Roscrea and The Rock of

Dunamaise.

Application Form

Name: Address: .. Phone Contact: .. E-mail Address: ..

Updated information will be sent, on a regular basis to those who have registered for the cycle.

Tick your preference for receiving info

E-mail Or Short Text

Contact: Hugh Sheppard ..086 8694691

Noel Mooney .. 087 9517311

Matt Doyle . 086 0537356

E-mail: durrow.doings@gmail.com

Postal Applications to: ICRCT c/o Cluain Doire, Derry Road, Durrow, Co. Laois, Ireland.

Online Registrations

https://eventbrite.ie/event/17359070447/ Booking Fees: 2day cyclists 50 to include:

2 evening meals , light refreshments, one nights

accommodation, heritage site visits, event

passport commerative medal and full back-

up services.

1day cyclists: 25, includes: 1 evening meal,

light refreshments, heritage site visits, full

back-up services. Cycle only: 15 excludes

meals, accommodation and ancillaries. Cheques payable to: Irish Country Roads &

Culture Trails

In an effort to uphold the ethos and

authenticity of the event, only High Nelly

bicycles or their genuine replicas will be

permitted. Cyclists are encouraged to wear

suitable period costume, where possible.

It is the responsibility of individual cyclists

to ensure the safety and roadworthiness of

their bicycle prior to involvement in this

event.

Following William Bulfin's death in 1910, his son Eamon was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising and was appointed as a representative to Argentina by the Irish republican leader Eamon De Valera. Bulfin's daughter Catalina married Sean McBride, a leading Irish republican, son of Maud Gonne and Major John McBride who was executed for his part in the 1916 rebellion. Eamon Bulfins son, Mike is a renowned sculptor and artist and a current member of Aosdana (an affiliation of creative artists of Ireland)

You can cycle for many days in this hospitable country. From Birr, through Northern Tipperary, by Roccrea, across the

southern spur of the Sliamh Blooms, eastward of Ard-na- hEireann and

on to Dunamaise. It is not a country of lofty crags or rushing torrents,

or blue mountain lakes. It is a country of wild valleys and wooded

dales and green hills. There is a purple heather along the tops of the

Sliamh Blooms, but the lower slopes are fertile, hemmed in by the

green crops and pastures, and fenced with hawthorn hedges, making

the harvest time one long poem of colour. This is a beautiful part of

Ireland, and its beauty never saddens you

(William Bulfin Rambles in Eirinn 1907)

The Derrinlough to Durrow High Nelly Cycle Challenge

retraces one of William Bulfins, Rambles in Eirinn bicycle

journeys, visiting the Heritage towns of Birr, Roscrea and

Abbeyleix, and hy7aAA|ZZ| like Bulfin, delighting in the history

of the Book of Dimma and the Rock of Dunamaise before

pushing on to the historic and picturesque town of Durrow, Co.

Laois. It is fitting that we conclude our High Nelly Heritage

Cycle in Durrow, where William Bulfin lingered on his bicycle

journey in 1902, describing this lovely town as,

A Gem in the Basin of the Nore.