The Reverend Barry Forde, Church of Ireland Chaplain of Queen’s University Belfast, and his team of fellow cyclists – Chris, James, Alex, Peter – with their support driver, Carol, passed through Cork on Friday, 3rd May to begin their mammoth 650 km/400 mile cycle from Mizen Head (in County Cork) to Malin Head at Ireland’s northernmost tip.
The group of cyclists at the Mizen Head.
The were received at the home of the Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton and Mrs Susan Colton, where an appropriately healthy and energy-ful lunch was laid on. ‘This will propel you over the hill from Cork into Kerry’, Bishop Colton told the group. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn, kindly dropped in to wish the group well and to give them a map of the Cork part of their cycle.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn presents the group with a map while Barry and Carol hold the ‘two-day visa’ issued by the Bishop for travel in the Diocese.
The group from The Hub, the joint Church of Ireland/Methodist Chaplaincy at Queen’s University, Belfast are cycling in aid of two children’s charities in Uganda. Everything about the cycle and the is HERE, Donations can also be made through the group’s website HERE.
Also on hand with the Bishop and the Lord Mayor, to welcome the group and to wish them well were: the Chaplain of University College Cork (Canon Alan Marley, the Dean of Cork (the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, who works with the Reverend Barry Forde on the Covenant Council of the Church of Ireland/Methodist churches), the Archdeacon of Cork (the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson), and Mr Billy Skuse (Cork Diocesan Secretary).
The happy group after lunch in Cork.
Bishop Colton gave the group a two day ‘Diocesan Visa’ before sending them on their way to their next stop in Bandon, where they were met by parishioners and the rector, the Reverend Denis MacCarthy.
The Reverend Denis MacCarthy welcomes the group to Bandon.
Bandon Lay Reader, Marie Norton, tries out one of the bikes.
From there it was on to Rosscarbery to meet the Dean of Ross at Saint Fachtna’s Cathedral, Ross.
Rosscarbery
Finally, the group assembled at Mizen Head in the far south west of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, where they were met by retired priest, the Reverend Rosemary Logue and her husband Art who live in that parish, and the Rural Dean, the Reverend John Ardis. The, nothing for it, but to line up at the start line and to start cycling. The group cycled to Bantry on the first, beautiful sunny evening in West Cork.
Marking that start
Everyone in Cork, Cloyne and Ross wishes them well as they head to face the ‘FINISH LINE’ in the opposite way at the other end of their journey at Malin Head on Tuesday.
Heading towards the finish line at Malin from the start line at Mizen
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