Four thousand bicyclists will descend on Kenmare and race around the Beara Peninsula on Saturday May 26. Almost every lodging is already booked for May 25+26. We had unknowingly planned to be there, but were able to change our itinerary to visit Kenmare earlier. http://ringofbearacyclekenmare.com/kenmare/
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7355 posts
A bike race can be a fun and festive event - we were on the Isle of Man this past June and saw the start of the British National Championship race in Douglas. But 4,000 racers is a lot (more than at the British Championships!), and can have a serious effect on lodging availability and prices! Glad you were able to rearrange you plans to suit your trip & thanks for alerting (or promoting/warning) everyone who might be going there.
Posted by
OP
172 posts
Please tell me about the Isle of Man. There is a possibility of taking the ferry over from Dublin at the end of our Ireland trip. Is it worth visiting? How long were you there?
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
i am a Kerry Civil Defense volunteer and worked at the Ring of Beara Cycle this past year; and worked out of Kenmare. I would definitely NOT recommend doing the drive around that area during the cycle ride!
Also, the Ring of Kerry Cycle is the first weekend in July. I do not recommend driving the area that day (9,000 cyclists or more - i've cycled it, it's crazy insane crowded and the road is open to cars/buses.). I wouldn't stay in Killarney that weekend, either. I always get a Killarney person responding to my comment about that, negatively. But I stand by my recommendation to keep away from Killarney during those big weekends (Bike Week; R of K cycle; Rally of the Lakes car races....).
Susan
Expatliving in waterville