An Post Rás 2013 - Stage 1

Dé Domhnaig Bealtaine 19 / Sunday May 19

Dunboyne - Longford 135.4 km

Stage Summary

DUNBOYNE START,
Summerhill, Trim, Athboy Post Office Hot Spot Sprint, Crossakeel, Slieve an Callaigh Category 3 KOH, Oldcastle, Virginia, Ballyjamesduff, Granard, Ballinalee,
LONGFORD FINISH.

Estimated time of arrival at kilometres per hour
			48	40	32
Kms	Miles	Location	Back wind	Average	Head wind
0.0	0.0	Ceremonial Start, Dunboyne Square at Mulvaneys Fingal House on Summerhill Road
0.9	0.6	Roundabout, 1st exit onto R157 dir Maynooth
2.2	1.4	Roundabout, 1st exit, dir Dunboyne
3.5	2.2	Turn left at 4rdsX in Dunboyne Village, back onto Summerhill Road
4.4	2.7	Roundabout, 2nd exit dir Summerhill R156
5.1	3.2	End of neutral zone/section outside Dunboyne AFC
0.0	0.0	Race Start @ Dunboyne AFC Depart on R156, dir Summerhill	12:30	12:30	12:30
4.8	3.0	Junction on left for Kilcloon, start of S-bends	12:36	12:37	12:39
5.0	3.1	Junction on right hand side	12:36	12:37	12:39
5.3	3.3	Series of S-Bends	12:36	12:37	12:39
9.3	5.8	Right at Y junction - caution acute bend	12:41	12:43	12:47
10.8	6.7	4rdsX / straight through R156	12:43	12:46	12:50
17.2	10.7	Roundabout, 2nd exit dir Summerhill R158	12:51	12:55	13:02
		On R158
		Summerhill
17.9	11.1	Right at Y junction, dir Trim/Rathmolyon R158	12:52	12:56	13:03
25.2	15.7	Straight through staggered 4rdsX	13:01	13:07	13:17
		Trim
27.8	17.3	Roundabout, 2nd exit dir Town Centre / Kinnegad R161	13:04	13:11	13:22
		On R161
28.4	17.6	4rdsX/traffic lights, straight through onto Emmet Street	13:05	13:12	13:23
28.8	17.9	Right at Y junction at bridge on Mill Street	13:06	13:13	13:24
29.0	18.0	Left at Trim Furniturecraft St Loman’s Street (narrow street)	13:06	13:13	13:24
29.4	18.3	Left at T junction at Supervalu dir Athboy	13:06	13:14	13:25
		Immediately right at Y junction, the Malt House/Pat Leonards
29.6	18.4	Left at T junction, dir Athboy R154	13:07	13:14	13:25
		On R154
30.7	19.1	Athboy 80 speed signs, road narrows	13:08	13:16	13:27
40.0	24.8	Athboy 50 speed signs	13:20	13:30	13:45
41.0	25.5	Left at T junction at Exco petrol station, dir Oldcastle R154, Delvin N51	13:21	13:31	13:46
		Post Office Prime Hot Spot Ahead
41.3	25.7	Post Office on right hand side (An Post Prime Hot Spot)	13:21	13:31	13:47
41.5	25.8	Turn right at Cheveux Belle Hair Salon onto Connaught Street dir Oldcastle R154	13:21	13:32	13:47
43.9	27.3	Right at Y junction, continue on main road to right	13:24	13:35	13:52
46.7	29.0	Left at Y junction, continue on main road dir Crossakeel & Oldtown R154	13:28	13:40	13:57
47.0	29.2	Right at Y junction, main road to right (no direction signs)/unsigned	13:28	13:40	13:58
48.3	30.0	Crossing major 4rdsX junction, straight through dir Oldcastle R154	13:30	13:42	14:00
51.0	31.7	Kilskyre 50 speed signs	13:33	13:46	14:05
53.3	33.1	Right at Y junction / series of S bends	13:36	13:49	14:09
54.7	34.0	Crossakeel 50 speed signs	13:38	13:52	14:12
55.0	34.2	Major 4rdsX at old Cosy Corner pub, straight through dir Oldcastle R154	13:38	13:52	14:13
58.4	36.3	Left at T junction, dir Oldcastle R154	13:43	13:57	14:19
60.5	37.6	Right dir Oldcastle/Boyne Valley Drive R154	13:45	14:00	14:23
		Blue flag for start of KOM
61.5	38.2	Sliabh an Cailleach KOM Cat 3 Hot Spot Sprint Finish line	13:46	14:02	14:25
		KOM line at layby on right hand side
66.7	41.4	Oldcastle 50 speed signs	13:53	14:10	14:35
67.5	41.9	Right turn in Square, signposted Virginia/Ballyjamesduff	13:54	14:11	14:36
68.5	42.6	Keep right at junction	13:55	14:12	14:38
69.2	43.0	Straight through 4rdsX dir Virginia	13:56	14:13	14:39
71.4	44.4	Signpost Welcome to Cavan	13:59	14:17	14:43
73.4	45.6	Start of series of bad bends “Caution”	14:01	14:20	14:47
76.2	47.3	Start of series of bad bends “Caution”	14:05	14:24	14:52
77.3	48.0	Left at T junction, dir Ballyjamesduff R194	14:06	14:25	14:54
		On R194
84.0	52.2	Ballyjamesduff 50 speed signs	14:15	14:36	15:07
84.1	52.3	Ramp (split)	14:15	14:36	15:07
84.2	52.3	Ramp (full width)	14:15	14:36	15:07
84.3	52.4	Ramp (full width)	14:15	14:36	15:08
84.4	52.4	Ramp (full width)	14:15	14:36	15:08
84.5	52.5	Ramp (split)	14:15	14:36	15:08
84.9	52.7	Right at T junction, dir All Routes/Dublin N3	14:16	14:37	15:09
85.0	52.8	Left at 4rdsX, signpost dir Longford & Granard, R194	14:16	14:37	15:09
		On R194 (Continue)
85.1	52.9	Straight through at 4rdsX / Traffic island centre of road x 2	14:16	14:37	15:09
86.2	53.6	Right at Y junction, main road dir Granard, Killinaleck	14:17	14:39	15:11
87.2	54.2	Narrow bridge	14:19	14:40	15:13
91.4	56.8	Right at T junction, dir Ballinagh/Killinaleck/Granard/Longford	14:24	14:47	15:21
91.7	57.0	Left turn dir Castlepollard/Granard at Y junction	14:24	14:47	15:21
99.8	62.0	Right at Y Junction	14:34	14:59	15:37
101.6	63.1	Right at T junction, dir Granard R194	14:37	15:02	15:40
101.9	63.3	Left at Y junction, dir Granard/Longford R194	14:37	15:02	15:41
106.6	66.2	Start of feed zone at bungalow (cream colour) on left	14:43	15:09	15:49
107.4	66.7	End of feed zone at 60 speed signs	14:44	15:11	15:51
107.8	67.0	Granard town sign	14:44	15:11	15:52
108.5	67.4	Turn left dir Athlone/Edgeworthstown/ Ballinalee at Top Garage	14:45	15:12	15:53
109.5	68.0	Right from Main Street to Market Street at Granville Arms, signpost dir Ballinalee 11km/Longford 22km R194	14:46	15:14	15:55
		Continue on R194
110.4	68.6	25Km to go - Matt Reilly’s Cakes on right hand side / cream & red building	14:48	15:15	15:57
120.5	74.9	Ballinalee 50 speed signs	15:00	15:30	16:15
121.3	75.4	Straight at 4rdsX	15:01	15:31	16:17
125.4	77.9	10Km to go - House on right hand side with large sheds and 6-foot wall	15:06	15:38	16:25
127.7	79.3	Right at T junction dir Aghnacliff at Old Forge Pub/Kiernan’s Petrol Station	15:09	15:41	16:29
		Immediate left, dir Newtownforbes (6km) at Brooklands Health Centre L1011
130.1	80.8	Straight at 4rdsX	15:12	15:45	16:33
130.4	81.0	5Km to go - Narrow bridge	15:13	15:45	16:34
131.0	81.4	Left at T junction dir Longford R198	15:13	15:46	16:35
		On R198
131.1	81.5	Longford 60 speed signs	15:13	15:46	16:35
131.4	81.6	4km to go - right hand side and entrance to stone faced house / row of houses	15:14	15:47	16:36
132.4	82.3	3km to go	15:15	15:48	16:38
132.6	82.4	50 speed signs Longford	15:15	15:48	16:38
133.4	82.9	2km to go at old derelict house on right hand side / sign on right in opposite direction, Drumlish	15:16	15:50	16:40
133.7	83.1	Red Cow Roundabout, Texaco Fuel station on RHS, 2nd exit dir Longford R198	15:17	15:50	16:40
134.0	83.3	Roundabout, 2nd exit, straight through	15:17	15:51	16:41
134.2	83.4	Mini roundabout/Traffic island, straight through	15:17	15:51	16:41
134.4	83.5	1Km to go at Carton Hill House on left hand side	15:18	15:51	16:42
134.9	83.8	Pedestrian crossing / pavement juts out / bollards	15:18	15:52	16:42
		500m, Garda Station
135.0	83.9	Right-hand bend	15:18	15:52	16:43
		300m, Brendan T Muldowney Solicitors
		Divert team cars right to old Longford army barracks
135.1	83.9	Left-hand bend onto Main Street/Ballymahon Street	15:18	15:52	16:43
		200m, entrance to Omniplex
135.2	84.0	Bridge	15:19	15:52	16:43
		150m, Computer Clinic on right hand side
135.3	84.1	Traffic lights	15:19	15:52	16:43
		100m, Black Forest Home Bakery
		75m, Lane at Permanent TSB
		50m, Providers Ltd, corner Richmond Street
		25m, start of layby on right hand side
135.4	84.1	Finish line at start of Annaly Hotel facing Courthouse	15:19	15:53	16:43

IMPORTANT STAGE LOCATIONS

Race HQ; Longford Arms Hotel, Tel. 043 3346296
Stage Finish Organiser; Lisa Brady, Tel. 087 - 7786834
Service Crew Accommodation; Longford Arms Hotel, Tel. 043 3346296
Anti-Doping Control located in camper van adjacent to finish line

Spotlight on Dunboyne and Longford

Map sponsored by OSI

Dunboyne

‘Dún Búinne’ meaning Búinne’s stronghold

Dunboyne is situated on the crossroads of the R156 and R157 which meet in the centre of the village. The town is considered to possess the features of both a village and a town. With a population of over 6,900 Dunboyne is steeped in history that stretches back to the middle ages.

The only access into and out of the town is over bridges therefore suggesting that Dunboyne is the only town in the country that could be an inland island.

In the twelfth century, with the arrival of the Normans, the town became the territory of the Petit family. In the thirteenth century an heiress of Sir William Petit, 6th Lord of Dunboyne, married Thomas Butler, the brother of the first Earl of Ormond, meaning that all titles and properties passed to the Butlers, and with it the Butler’s long association with the area.

Why not visit Dunboyne Castle, which dates back to the Butler dynasty. The castle was destroyed by Cromwell but was rebuilt in the 1700s. The mansion which replaced the original building is now Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa.

Interesting fact: In the 1970s the town became famous as the backdrop for the fictional village of Leestown in the successful television series called The Riordans.

Longford

‘Long Phort’ meaning ‘Ship-Port’

Longford, known as the heart of the midlands, is situated on the south bank of the River Camlin, a tributary of the River Shannon. It is the fourth smallest of Ireland’s 32 counties in terms of area, but with a population of 39,000 it is the second smallest county in the Ireland.

Longford is a low-lying county, most of which lies in the basin of the River Shannon. The county’s highest point is Cairn Hill at only 270 meters high and from the summit you will find magnificent views in all directions.

The region is perfect for outdoor activities such as cruising, coarse and game angling and canoeing. It also has an 18 hole championship golf course within easy reach as well as beautiful walking and cycling routes.

Visit the ruins of St. Mel’s Cathedral, which it is hoped will be restored for Christmas mass 2014. In 1840 the foundation stone of St. Mel’s Cathedral was laid by the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise but had to be put on hold for ten years due to the famine. It was completed in 1856 but on Christmas Day 2009 it was destroyed by fire.

Longford was originally set up by the Vikings as a ‘Long Phort’ meaning ‘Ship-Port’ and is regarded as the gateway to the northwest and northern half of Connaught.

Before the Norman invasion of the 12th century Longford was controlled by the O’Farrell Clan. After the invasion Longford was awarded to Hugh de Lacy, a follower of Strongbow but with England’s control being undermined due to the Black Death, military commitments to the Crusades and the 14th Century invasion of Edward Bruce the O’Farrell’s regained control and held it until the 16th Century.

(Irish: Cill Chainnigh, meaning "cell or church of Cainnech")[2] is a city[3] and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland.

The city is administered by a Borough Council and a Mayor which is a level below that of city council in the Local government of the state although the Local Government Act 2001 allows for "the continued use of the description city". The borough has a population of 8,661, however the majority of the population live outside the borough boundary, the 2006 Irish Census gives the total population of the Borough & Environs as 22,179.

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