At the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night were: Julieanne and Phil Templeman, Martina O’Mahony, Charlie Farrelly, Robert Templeman and Pat Hartnett. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Aoife McGrattan, Portaferry, Co. Down pictured with her parents Cathal and Mary at the Longest Day Post Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar. ©Photograph: John Reidy
At the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night were: Cathal Flood with Mary, Des and Maggie Mangan and Rachel O’Mahony. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Bertie Moriarty (left) pictured with John Lyons and Ian Geaney at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Anthony Walsh (front) pictured with: Katie Prendiville, Shane McAuliffe, Andrew Foran and John Broderick at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Seán O’Connell is surrounded by friends from left: Emma Fitzgerald, Emily O’Doherty, Katie Prendiville and Shannen O’Doherty at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Publican and Longest Day co-founder, Tom McCarthy pictured with his sisters: Breda and Bernie and Jerry Courtney at the Longest Day Party on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
David Allman (left) pictured with: Sheila McQuinn, Vera Galvin and Brian Brosnan at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
DJs, John Feehan (left) and Lorcan O’Connor keeping the crowd happy at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Neil Brosnan pictured with: Clodagh O’Sullivan, Derval Sheehy, Michelle Reidy, Christine Brosnan and Katie Sugrue at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Adam Kwisk (left) pictured with: Michal Sobczak, Michal Szcepanski, and Maciej Jankowski at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Andrew Foran (left) pictured with: Shane McAuliffe, Breda Horgan, Dan Maunsell, John Broderick and Seán O’Connell at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Patrick Kerins (left) pictured with Tom and Lisa O’Donnell and D.D. and Yvonne Kerins at the Longest Day Party at Tom McCarthy’s Bar on Saturday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Members of The Longest Day organising team and friends pictured at the post event party at Tom McCarthy’s bar on Saturday night. Inclided are, Front: Patrick Kerins, Kevin Moran, Tom McCarthy, proprietor and Regina Fagan. Back from left: Eileen Greaney, Michael Brosnan, Gerry Fagan, Denny Greaney, John Quirke, Tom O’Shea and Norma Nolan-Moran. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Though The Longest Day peloton was reduced by 45 from last year’s high of 175 it still managed to raise €12,000 for its designated charities.
Pieta House will receive the bulk of the total while a €1,000 donation has been earmarked for the Kerry Mountain Rescue team.
A whole array of competing attractions drew numbers of cyclists and climbers away from Saturday’s event – including that evening’s Euro 2016 game between Belgium and Ireland – according the event spokesperson, Georgina Fagan.
Competing Events
“We were back at least 45 participants from last year’s total and that’s all down to a range of competing events all over the place – not least of which was the Ireland V Belgium game on TV that evening.
“We’re delighted that we actually got in the €12,000 for Pieta House and for the Kerry Mountain Rescue in particular as they have always been good to us on the mountain – and were again on Saturday when we needed them most.
“The after party at Tom’s was its usual brilliant self and there was an air of celebration about for those who had been out on the road or up on the mountain for the day.
Welcomed Back
“We started out on Saturday morning at 6.15am with registrations and we got going shortly afterwards.
“Though the weather was less in our favour this year, we were welcomed back by a crowd on the streets at 6pm with food and refreshments for all the participants – and the barbecue that night went down a treat again this year.
“It’s an outstanding event which has now raised over €56,500 for various charities in its three outings to date and we’ll be looking at 2017 over the next few weeks. We’ll have a cheque presentation night when all the counting is done and we’ll take it from there,” said Ms. Fagan.
The Longest Day event consists of a 6am to 6pm, 80km round-trip cycle from Castleisland to Cronin’s Yard. Climb Carrantouhill and cycle back to Castleisland. After refreshments and a break comes the Bikes & Boots BBQ at 7.30pm.
