Shane Keenan and Jill Draper in action during the 1,000 Mile Challenge in Kilbeggan last weekend.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks’ 1,000 Mile Challenge raises over €9k

Last weekend’s 1,000 Mile Cycle Challenge fundraiser organised by Kilbeggan Shamrocks GAA proved to be a resounding success.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks GAA and LGFA players and members came together to raise much-needed funds for player and pitch development by cycling 1,000 miles outside Centra Kilbeggan from 8am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

With the sun shining on both days, each cyclist was assigned 30 or 60-minute time slots. The turbo bikes were sanitised after each person used them and social distancing was observed at all times.

The target was to raise €5,000, but by last Sunday night nearly double that amount - €9,004 – had been raised through donations and bucket collections. The figure surpassed all expectations and reflected the massive goodwill that exists within the community for Kilbeggan GAA.

The club has thanked main sponsor Centra Kilbeggan, Padraig Egan and Britvic Ireland for keeping participants hydrated and all who supported the fundraising in any way.

“We were blown away by the generosity of people. The past year has been very difficult for all clubs whose income has been drastically reduced by the pandemic, and we were no exception. What we saw last weekend was a wonderful display of club and community spirit as we look forward to a return to play in the coming weeks,” Kilbeggan Shamrocks GAA chairman Ken Scally commented.

The main sponsors of the event were as follows: AA Ventilation, Buggy Foods, Centra Kilbeggan, Esker Rí Nursing Home, Clara, Fit Factory, Guilfoyle Boilers and Shanette Sheds. Other sponsors: Draper Garden Furniture, Kilbeggan Gift Shop, Kilbeggan Joinery, Kilbeggan Physio, Larrigy’s Pub, Mace Kilbeggan, McNamara’s Pub, Mick Gorry and Sons Joinery, MP Engineering Services, Scally’s Centra, Tullamore, Scally Precast, Senator Paul Daly, SWEETS Ltd and Written in Stone.