Report on Mid Summer Evening Run 21st. June 2025

Over the years the club has always arranged something to celebrate the Summer Solstice. The longest day this year, June 21st fell on a Saturday plus the forecast was for warm dry weather, ideal for an evening run.

The committee decided to organise an evening run with a BBQ at the finish.

Andrew Kennedy was tasked with planning the run. He did a magnificent route over West Wicklow , with some seasoned members saying they had never ridden some of his chosen roads before. He even included a small section with the grass in the middle. Stephen Whelan did back marker.

The meet was at the Foxhunter service station Lucan. Leaving at 6.3pm the route went through Celbridge, Newcastle, Blessington, Ballymore Eustace, Dunlavin, all on back roads, stopping at Grangecon. Stephen kept the members who were up on the Wicklow Gap preparing the BBQ informed on numbers attending plus the progress. The destination was the Wicklow Gap car park for 9pm. The riders did not know that a BBQ was prepared for them on arrival.

From Grangecon the route went through Baltinglass, Rathangan , Aughavanagh, Laragh and on to the Wicklow Gap. Simon Porter and Iain Duff came direct.

While waiting for the group to arrive Paul Dixon was kept busy frying onions for the burgers and “WOW”......the aroma floating round the car park was whetting the appetite of the hill walkers preparing for home after a day in the hills.

Budgeting for an estimated number of people with fresh produce is not easy , but we got it right. There was sufficient sausages and burgers for the 24 members.

When the group arrived they were all in praise of Andrew’s route and pace. Being greeted with burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks was the icing on the cake for them. Nash Finnegan had everything cooked to perfection.

There was lots of reminiscing about previous club events. Someone recalled when Conor Gill took a group of members up Tonelagee, the mountain opposite the car park, in the snow. The late Laurence Boland was on that hike. Behind us was Turlough Hill where Paul Dixon arranged the memorable visit to the ESB underground power station. We were allowed to ride our bikes down to it , followed by a ride round the rim of the upper lake.

It was a lovely balmy summer evening as we chatted while waiting for the sun to set. A light warm breeze seemed to keep the flies and midges at bay. Unfortunately a cloud blocked what could have been a beautiful sunset. There was brightness till 11pm.

The committee originally looked at Glenmalure car park but decided against it due to its popularity, plus its notoriety for midges. The Gap was the wise choice.

Thanks to everyone who planned and implemented this event, and most important those who were able to come along for the ride…... .overall a great club effort.

The club has come a long way from its first BBQ 50 years ago in Dungannon, when the burgers were cooked on an oil barrel cut in half with wire mesh on top.

And now Folks, from now on the days get shorter…..what a thought !

Jim.