Derrinlough to Durrow

Co. Offaly

Celebrating
National Heritage Week

Co. Laois

High Nelly Heritage Cycle

August 29th & 30th

From

Derrinlough to Durrow

Details: Day 1:

(Co. Offaly)

Depart Derrinlough at 11.30am

(Co. Laois)

by kind permission of the Bulfin family.

High Nelly Heritage Cycle

Travelling to Birr: (Welcome address by

(In the Wheelrims of William Bulfin (1864-1910)

Margaret Hogan, Historian).

Roscrea (Heritage information point)

110K 2Day Event

Light refreshments served.

Via Ballaghmore to Camross (short break).

Arrival: Srahan Scout Activity Centre.
(Meal and overnight stay at Srahan).

Srahan Activity Centre Facility

Rock of Dunamaise (heritage information

(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

point).
light refreshments served.

Please, do not contact the above number for bookings or

information regarding the High Nelly Heritage Cycle.

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.

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

Saturday August 29th

&
Sunday August 30th
2015
(National Heritage Week)
A Gently Paced
Irish Country Roads & Culture Trail

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

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.

Application Form
Name:
Address: ..
Phone Contact: ..

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

E-mail Address: ..

Cycle in Durrow, where William Bulfin lingered on his bicycle

journey in 1902, describing this lovely town as,

Updated information will be sent, on a

regular basis to those who have registered
for the cycle.

A Gem in the Basin of the Nore.

Tick your preference for receiving info

of Wexford. Rambles in Eirinn is an insightful

E-mail

book written by William Bulfin about his cycling

Or

Short Text

Contact:

experience. The travelogue was published in

extending to a fourth edition, published in 1915.

Hugh Sheppard ..086 8694691

Noel Mooney .. 087 9517311
Matt Doyle . 086 0537356

The book paints a vivid picture of the history

E-mail: durrow.doings@gmail.com

and heritage of the Irish countryside, just after

Postal Applications to:

ICRCT c/o Cluain Doire, Derry Road,
Durrow, Co. Laois, Ireland.

1907 and proved to be a resounding success,

the turn of the

20th

century. Bulfin had an

intimate knowledge of the Irish landscape along

with an innate passion for the historical

Online Registrations
https://eventbrite.ie/event/17359070447/

importance and heritage value of places such as

Booking Fees: 2day cyclists 50 to include:

2 evening meals , light refreshments, one nights
accommodation, heritage site visits, event
passport commerative medal and full backup 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.

Tara, Skryne Valley, Vinegar Hill, the old

Monastery of Roscrea and The Rock of
Dunamaise.

Cheques payable to: Irish Country Roads &

Culture Trails

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)

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.