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Festival Appeals to local Cyclists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FESTIVAL APPEALS TO LOCAL CYCLISTS
Tralee, Co. Kerry April 14th 2008
Many cyclists got a very pleasant surprise this week when they returned to their trusty bicycles only to find a bright red bell had been attached in their absence. They were not completely left in the dark however. Their mysterious benefactors left a rather large clue. Attached to every red bell was a programme for the forthcoming Kerry Bicycle Festival. The red bells are part of Peal, a community bicycle project initiated by Michael Kelly that is to be undertaken in the week preceding the Kerry Bicycle Festival. The project involves the placing of 100 bells on 100 bikes around Tralee. The distinctive look of the bells will allow cyclists identify each other as fellow unwitting members of this project. When interviewed, Mike Kelly said, 'We hope to bring the sound of bicycle bells back into the streets of Tralee. Not only is it sociable and fun but it's safer too.'
The festival officially kicks off on Thursday night with a bicycle-inspired gig in Clubheadbangbang in the Greyhound Bar on Pembroke street. Friday night sees a public discussion take place in the Samhlaiocht Gallery on Castle Street. This discussion is open to all and will be chaired by the Mayor of Tralee, Miriam McGillycuddy. Local bike-related issues will be discussed including the possibility of opening a Fenit to Tralee and a Ballyroe to Tralee cycleway on the land currently occupied by disused railway line. The state of Tralee's cycle lanes will also be discussed. This discussion will be followed by a viewing of bicycled-related short movies.
Saturday sees a family cycle to Blennerville followed by general bicycle festivities in Tralee Town Square including the Fanzini brothers and Paddy Waters - the bicycle clown. There will be bicycle elves at the ready to oil your chain and the opportunity to get a bicycle portrait taken in the mobile bicycle studio. The Irish premier of a composition scored for 12 bicycles by avant garde composer Godfried-Willem Raes called 2nd Symphony for Singing Bicyles will also be performed. A bicycle powered mobile phone charger will be at the ready if you run dry and a broken tandem found dumped in Tralee town has been carefully brought back to life for the day that's in it.
One of the highlights of the festival will be a 'Family Cycle' on Saturday Afternoon, where we hope to get as many people as possible on to their bikes, the cycle will be fully supervised, and will have a 'Cycle Garda' Escort. All are welcome on this event, the meeting point is 12 noon at the Ashe Memorial Hall, and the cycle pace will be leisurely.
The festival will be brought to a close on Sunday afternoon with a bicycle picnic in Ballyseede Wood.
ABOUT KERRY BICYCLE FESTIVAL
Kerry Bicycle Festival is a four day free festival which brings together a selection of diverse events which aim to celebrate the bicycle. This festival encompasses musical, artistic and outdoor events all of which are free and will take place within the environs of Tralee town. This festival was established in 2008 in order to raise the profile of cycling culture by making it more accessible and attractive and to promote cycling as an environmentally sustainable and cost effective mode of transport.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kerry Bicycle Festival
Tom Crean Centre
Tralee
Co. Kerry
Ph: 087 7937471
email: axle@kerrybicyclefestival.org
web: www.kerrybicyclefestival.org
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Mayor of Tralee launches inaugural
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAYOR LAUNCHES INAUGURAL KERRY BICYCLE FESTIVAL
Tralee, Co.Kerry March 25th 2008
Kerry Bicycle Festival, an exciting new four day free festival celebrating the bicycle through film, art and music was launched today in Tralee by Mayor, Miriam McGillycuddy. The festival will run from Thursday April 17th to Sunday April 20th . Organisers of Kerry Bicycle Festival have announced a diverse line up of events which will take place in Tralee town and it's environs.
Kerry's very first bicycle festival will include events from bicycle clowns to bicycle films to bicycle jazz musicians. The initiative was brought about by a group of volunteers including local arts group ClubHeadBangBang. The festival aims to raise the profile of cycling culture by promoting cycling as an environmentally sustainable cost effective mode of transport and to highlight Kerry as a destination for cycle tourism.
An unique aspect of the festival will be a night of bicycle related short films. Submissions are currently being sought. Films must be bicycle related and can be no longer than 15 minutes. Submissions can be made in dvd format to Michael Kelly, Tom Crean Business Centre, Kerry Technology Park, Tralee, County Kerry. The deadline for entries is April 10th 2008. Application forms and further information are available on the website: www.kerrybicyclefestival.org.
ABOUT KERRY BICYCLE FESTIVAL
Kerry Bicycle Festival is a four day free festival which brings together a selection of diverse events which aim to celebrate the bicycle. This festival encompasses musical, artistic and outdoor events all of which are free and will take place within the environs of Tralee town. This festival was established in 2008 in order to raise the profile of cycling culture by making it more accessible and attractive and to promote cycling as an environmentally sustainable and cost effective mode of transport. This is a voluntary organisation comprising a group of people with diverse interests and backgrounds all with a common goal.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kerry Bicycle Festival
Tom Crean Center
Tralee
Co. Kerry
Ph: 087 7937471
email: axle@kerrybicyclefestival.org
web: www.kerrybicyclefestival.org
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