Rás Tailteann 2024 to kick off in Tullamore later this month

The 2024 edition of the Rás Tailteann will start in Tullamore on Wednesday, May 22 and will run until Sunday, May 26.

This year, Stage 1 of the event will kick off from Tullamore and will make its way south to take in Birr, Borrisokane, Nenagh, Birdhill, Newport, Caherconlish and Bruff, before finishing in Kilmallock. This stage of the 69th edition of the race will cover a distance of 148 kilometres. This will be the first-ever Rás Tailteann stage to finish in the County Limerick town.

A whopping 84.8KM of Irish roads awaits this year's entrants with a total of eighteen categorised climbs over the five stages, including two x category one climbs on stages two and four.

Speaking on the support of both Rás Tailteann and Rás na mBan, Cycling Ireland CEO, James Quilligan said: “Cycling Ireland is delighted to announce an increase in funding for the 2024 Rás Tailteann and Rás na mBan from the Department of Sport and Sport Ireland. Both races are led by an incredible group of volunteers, and we look forward to working with both as event partners in 2024. The races are among the most important on the Irish calendar and showcase the very best of Irish cycling and have attracted many top international cyclists throughout their storied histories. We’d like to thank Minister Martin, Minster Byrne, The Department of Sport and Sport Ireland’s support of the races,”

Adding to Mr Quilligan’s remarks, Rás Tailteann Race Director, Ger Campbell. said: “All of us at Cairde Rás Tailteann are thrilled with the announcement of the increase in funding. With the costs involved in promoting the event, it’s a huge boost for the race. It will allow us to plan our budget earlier this year and put in place important structures to make the event even better. ‘The Rás is hugely important to Ireland’s sports calendar, and we look forward to the continued success of the event going forward.”

Cairde Rás Tailteann is delighted to announce the continued support of Sport Ireland, Cycling Ireland, and The Department of Sport towards Rás Tailteann 2024.

For many years, funding from all three bodies has been the lifeline for allowing Rás Tailteann to take place. 2024 brings higher funding from the bodies, and Cairde Rás Tailteann is “Incredibly thankful for the support”, said Mr Campbell. He added that he was “delighted to see Rás na mBan’s funding matched with Rás Tailteann for the first time ever. Both Catherine Martin TD and Thomas Byrne TD deserve massive gratitude for their work in ensuring that both events can proceed in 2024”.

As a token of the race’s huge appreciation for the funding, the blue county rider jersey will again feature the Sport Ireland logo, while all jerseys will feature the Cycling Ireland logo. It is a great source of pride for Cairde Rás Tailteann to showcase their national governing bodies' logos at an international event.

Stage 1: Tullamore, Co. Offaly to Kilmallock, Co. Limerick (distance 148kms): Wednesday, May 22. Tullamore – Birr – Borrisokane – Nenagh - Birdhill - Newport – Caherconlish – Bruff - Kilmallock.

Stage 2: Kanturk, Co. Cork to Sneem, Co. Kerry (distance 187kms): Kanturk – Newmarket – Ballydesmond – Castleisland - Killorglin – Waterville – Caherdaniel - Sneem.

Stage 3: Kenmare, Co. Kerry to Cahir, Co. Tipperary (distance 155kms): Kenmare – Kilgarvan – Glenfesk – Rathmore – Mallow – Doneraile – Mitchelstown - Cahir.

Stage 4: Horse and Jockey, Co. Tipperary to Kildare town, (distance 139kms): Horse and Jockey – Urlingford – Ballyragget – Castlecomer – Killeshin – Carlow – Stradbally – Kildangan – Monasterevin - Kildare town.

Stage 5: Maynooth, Co. Kildare to Bective, Co. Meath (distance 156kms, including three laps of finishing circuit): Maynooth - Dunboyne – Ratoath – Ashbourne – Stamullen – Julianstown - Laytown – Drogheda - Donore - Garlow Cross - Bective.