Exciting News for Athlone!
A dynamic group of volunteers has come together to organise the first-ever Bicycle Festival in Athlone, scheduled for the upcoming June Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday, May 31st to Monday, June 2nd.
Festival Highlights
John Henson, Chairperson of the Bike Festival, shared his enthusiasm: “Cllr Frankie Keena has long been an advocate of this type of ” Active Festival ” and the absence of any local festival or event on this Summer’s Bank Holiday Weekend has provided an opening to put it into the Athlone’s Annual Festival Calendar.”
The Athlone Festival and Events Committee has laid a solid foundation over the years, offering templates for traffic management, insurance, health & safety, stewarding, and more. Their shared equipment and volunteer support will ensure that the Bike Festival is executed to the highest standards.
Community Support
John expressed gratitude to Westmeath County Council and the Athlone Regional Sports Centre for their sponsorship and support. Committee member Morgan Fagg hopes that Athlone’s first Bike Fest will inspire more people to cycle, highlighting the environmental, health, and efficiency benefits of cycling. “It will be wonderful to involve like-minded individuals in growing this festival annually and making Athlone a central hub for cycling groups each June,” he said.
Activities for Everyone
Mayor Frankie Keena, also a committee member, emphasised that the Athlone Bike Fest will offer something for everyone “whether you’re into long distance cycling, taking part in the bike parade or just watching, the Athlone Bike Fest will be a fun location to come and get involved this June Bank holiday weekend”. The festival will feature a fun slow bike race, bike treasure hunts, vintage bike displays, a bike parade, and incredible stunt displays by the Savage Skills crew.
Additionally, there will be a Charity Spin-athon benefiting Esker House Domestic Abuse Support Service. Sporting organisations, corporates, and individuals are invited to form teams and see how far they can cycle in an hour. All proceeds will go to this worthy cause, and the winning team will receive a perpetual trophy.
Get Involved
The beauty of this festival is that it caters to all ages, whether you are a bicycle enthusiast or not. More information will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you wish to get in touch with the committee, please email athlonebikefest@gmail.com.
Don’t forget Bike Week Starts this Saturday, May 10.
