*Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) with Chief Fire Officer, Adrian Kelly.
CLARE’s first citizen is to lead a charity cycle in aid of mental health services in the county next weekend.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) will front the ‘Mind over Miles’ 160km charity cycle. Beginning at Loop Head at 8am next Saturday (June 6th), cyclists will travel across the county via Kilrush, Kildysart, Clarecastle, Quin, Tulla, Feakle, Scariff, Mountshannon, Whitegate before finishing at the Galway border.
Funds raised from the cycle will go towards the Clare branch of Samaritans. Cllr Murphy confirmed that ten cyclists are on board at present but noted the amount “could snowball”.
Clarecastle native Paul has previously organised the ‘When it doubt pedal it out’ cycles which have raised money for mental health services in the county. He is a member of the Cycling Ireland registered Clare Crusaders Cycling Club.
Twelve years ago, Murphy took up cycling and explained that he finds it very helpful for clearing his head. “I am a pretty keen cyclist. I took it up as a pastime. I don’t train seriously, but I find it is a great form of exercise, it’s also something I enjoy. When I get out there on the bike it clears your head. It’s a fantastic way of clearing your brain.
“If there are things you are finding challenging, be it from a council point of view or a personal point of view, anything which is bothering you or is a challenge I find that when I’m on the bike it blows it through your brain and you can come up with solutions. It’s absolutely fantastic. That’s a common theme you hear from other cyclists as well. That is why I cycle myself. Clare Crusaders is a leisure cycling club, not a racing club, so it is as much about having the chat and the cup of coffee along the way as much as the physical side of it,” he added.
He said, “There will be a core group of people going from Loop Head all the way to Whitegate. There are about 10 people committed at present, but that could snowball too. If people want to dip in and do 10km or 30km, they will be able to track us and they are more than welcome to come along. They will be able to register online beforehand. There is no cost, but we will be doing a link online to fundraise for the Clare charities”.
The link to register for The Cathaoirleach’s Charity Cycle can be accessed through the ‘Events’ section of the Cycling Ireland website at www.cyclingireland.ie/events/find-an-event/ while those wishing to make donations should do so at www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/paulmurphy9
