By Dan Walsh
Enniscorthy will host the finish of Stage 3 of the famous Rás Tailteann 5-day cycle race today (Friday) at Ross Road.
The race will approach from the Carley’s Bridge direction and finish outside the main Showgrounds entrance at about 2.15pm.
A podium will be erected at the finish with some music and interviews, commentary on the race finish and the prize presentations will be made there directly after the finish.
The Ross Road will be fully open to traffic until the advance Garda team deem the finish to be imminent at which point traffic approaching the Ross Road from the Wafer Street/town direction will be diverted through Patrick Street and traffic approaching from Carley’s Bridge will be directed through Gort na Gréine at the roundabout.
Parking will be restricted on Ross Road from the junction with Patrick Street to The Showgrounds entrance. To ensure the safety of the riders and to avoid any damage to parked vehicles it is requested that residents use alternative parking for the duration of the event.
Alternative parking for Ross Road residents will be available at the Astro pitch carpark while spectator parking is available at the Sports Hub carpark.
There will be traffic disruption and delays for about an hour between the Ross Road/Patrick Street junction and the roundabout at Andy Doyle Close/Gort na Gréine during the race finish but gardaí and race marshals will keep delays to a minimum.
Today’s race begins at Mitchelstown and travels through Kilbeheny, Skeheenarinky, New Inn, Fethard, Cloneen, Mullinahone, Dunnamaggan, Knocktopher, Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Ballymurphy, Kiltealy, Jamestown, with an uphill finish into Enniscorthy. A total distance of 155.6kms.
HISTORY; Enniscorthy has a proud history of hosting top class cycling events. Enniscorthy famously hosted Stage 2 of the 1998 Tour de France and has hosted the Rás Tailteann on numerous occasions in its 71 years of sporting existence. The last time was in 2006.
It also hosted the Nissan International Classic (1985-1992) on a few occasions featuring two of Ireland’s greatest international cyclists, Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche.
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