Filed Under: News
DURROW is set to be a traffic blackspot once again next month, although this time around it will be a far more welcome spectacle.
Durrow is the place to be on 16 October as an audacious world record attempt is in the offing. Organisers are looking to get the largest number of High Nelly bikes in one place for an official Guinness World Record attempt. The peleton will travel from Abbeyleix and arrive at the bridge in Durrow.
“We’re now starting the promotion of it. Contacting press, getting adjudicators and the posters are going out today,” said organiser Bobby Campion.
The venture has been born out of the proliferation of High Nelly clubs in south Laois in recent years. Clough, Abbeyleix and Durrow all boast High Nelly clubs. The Durrow group has riders from the ages of seven to 82 years and meets every Wednesday for a cycle.
Promotion of the event has already started with the organiser collaborating with www.highnelly.ie to promote the event.
“We are going to be contacting vintage clubs throughout the country. Austin Ryan, who organises our own rally in Durrow, is doing that. If you have a High Nelly, you’re more than welcome to come down,” Mr Campion said,
The High Nelly Festival is organised in conjunction with the Bluegrass festival and Bob’s Bar.
Mr Campion explained that a demo by the Durrow riders at the recent Howya Festival sowed the seed of the idea for the record attempt.
“We met up in Abbeyleix and cycled into Durrow and the Clough boys came to the demo. We had 65 High Nelly bikes with little effort so, hopefully, we’ll be able to add to that,” he said.
Mr Campion explained the popularity of the event.
“The attraction is you can kill three birds with one stone. You are getting exercise and fresh air, you meet new people of a different clientele and, more importantly, you are doing something that is cheap and cheerful,” he said.
Mr Campion’s own interest in High Nelly bikes stretches back to his By-Gone Museum, which is located in Bob’s Bar.
“People would give me their parents’ old bikes and I would go away and document the bikes and their history. It’s a nice tourist attraction,” he said.
All High Nelly bikes must be usable and people are invited to dress in ’40s and ’50s garb for a period feel.
For more information, contact Bobby on 087 6165454.
Subscribe Our News (RSS)