Cuchulainn Cycling Club awards

Club secretary Karl Dolan presents Gerard Neary with the Volunteer of the Year Award

Friday last saw the members of Dundalk’s Cuchulainn Cycling Club head to Ridleys Bar to celebrate their achievements over the successful 2013 season. Prizes were awarded for the various competitions throughout the year and also those who did a lot of work behind the scenes were also honoured.

Once again it was the Volunteer of the Year award which got the biggest cheer of the night. For a club that hosted the National Championships, obtained planning permission for the building of Ireland’s first international standard cycling velodrome, hosted numerous events for both racing and touring, there is an unbelievable amount of work put in by the volunteers. To pick out just one member is harder than competing in any of the races, but when it came to decision time, Gerard Neary stood out as the person who had gone above and beyond the call of duty over 2013. Gerard played a part in almost every event run by the club, more often than not it was his ability to think ahead and make provisions for issues that could arise that ensured everything went smoothly on the day.

The Flood family were given a special award in recognition of the trojan amount of work the family gets through in helping the club out. Brian Doherty was also recognised with the “Hero of the Year” award.

On the racing awards Ardee’s Stephen Carrie was the outright winner of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League. Stepehen in his first year racing had a remarkable season beating out Ralph Ginesi for the win. Meanwhile in the women’s league Fiona Rogers was the outright winner ahead of Sinead O’Hanlon and Hazel Hall. The mountain bike league was taken by Michael Wilson after a close fought battle with Sandra O’Hagan who finished up in second position and Jason Malone in third. Finally the Galibier Clothing time trial league saw two Newry riders top the leader board with Des Woods and Kevin Lynch taking first and second respectively ahead of Dundalk’s Colm Quinn.

Louth Champions honoured on the night were Bryan McCrystal and Gretta O’Connor for the road race. Brother and sister combo Eve and Bryan McCrystal were victorious in the time trial championships. The off road county championships went to Meave Baxter and Ray O’Shaughnessey. Ray was also the hill climb county champion, alongside Breda Dawe.

Eve McCrystal’s phenomenal season saw her voted as the club’s road racing cyclist of the year, in addition to the title of female cyclist of the year. Michael Wilson was honoured as the off-road cyclist of the year, while Pat Kilboy received the same award as leisure cyclist of the year. Nathan McGrane was noted as the most improved male cyclist of the year, while Martina Carey was the female cyclist of the year.

With 2013 almost done there is one more event to go, the Carrick Cycles annual New Year’s Eve Time Trial, starting at 11am from Felda Gym. The 2012 winner’s were awarded on the night, with Niall Clarke winning the men’s and Eve McCrystal the females.

Geordie Shore star Vicky set to return to Dundalk after Christmas

Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison

Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison will return to Dundalk shortly after Christmas for an Intensity teenage disco.

The MTV reality star has been in Dundalk a number of times in recent months but is set to return to Ridley’s on December 27^th in a double header with Longford-based comedian James Donnelly.

Tickets will be on sale for the event soon.

Ridley’s Gathering event tonight

There will be a gathering with a difference tonight at Eden Disco Bar in Park Street.

2013 is the year of The Gathering and to mark the occasion, the good folk at Ridley’s Nite Club are having a gathering of their own.

Bryan Oliver has invited former staff back to where it all began for them this evening.

Anyone who used to work in the nite club over the years is invited to meet up in Eden at 9pm this evening, before the night continues on in Ridley’s later.

Former staff looking to reconnect can check out the special Ridley’s Gathering Facebook page.

Junior Cert disco in Ridley’s

The Junior Cert results will be released on Wednesday September 11th and to mark the occasion Intensity have organised a Junior Cert results disco in Ridley’s Nightclub.

Tickets for the party are on sale now from the Candy Store in Dundalk, priced €11, or from ticketstop.ie

Meanwhile, in Ridley’s

Jordan O’Keefe (left) with Philip Kehoe of Ridley’s

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Jordan O’Keefe was in Ridley’s last night for an Intensity teenage night.

The place was packed and he later tweeted this picture of the crowd on the dancefloor…

You’d hate to see them if One Direction ever came to town!

Ridley’s plan a Gathering of former staff

2013 is the year of The Gathering and to mark the occasion, the good folk at Ridley’s Nite Club are having a gathering of their own.

Bryan Oliver has invited former staff back to the Park Street venue for a special gathering on Friday November 8^th.

Anyone who used to work in the nite club over the years is invited to meet up in The Garden that night, before the night continues on in Ridley’s later that evening.

Former staff who wish to be kept up to date with plans for the reunion can keep track of things on the special Ridley’s Gathering Facebook page.

Even the Geordies love Dundalk

Scotty T from MTV’s Geordie Shore was in Dundalk last night for an appearance at Ridley’s and became the latest to hop on the football bandwagon by donning a Dundalk FC jersey.

Fair play though, in fairness. More chance of silverware for the town than there is for the Toon I reckon!

Don’t be surprised if you come across this today

 

The Google mapping car is reported to be in Dundalk today.

They must be going to update the street view of Dundalk on Google Maps. The last mapping took place over four years ago in May 2009 and a trip down popular streets such as Park Street is like a trip back through time with stores on view such as Mr James, D’Arcy Flowers and Oscars Pub which have all since either closed up or changed hands.

There’s alos a view of Ridley’s before it was renovated and the old Tara Bar before it was converted to Eden/The Garden.

Valleys star Leeroy to visit Dundalk for Junior Cert night

Following on from the successful visit of Valleys stars Nicole and Lateysha to Dundalk recently, another star of the hit MTV show is set to visit the town next week.

Leeroy will be in Ridley’s Nite Club for Intensity Dundalk’s Junior Cert and GCSE night on Wednesday June 19^th.

The event is strictly open to those who have just completed their junior or GCSE exams and potential attendees are being warned that no first or second years will be admitted on the night, with only those in third year or above being allowed to enter.

Tickets are available from the Candy Store in Dundalk, Carlin Records in Newry, Short’s Sports in Crossmaglen or online from www.ticketstop.ie

Reps from schools will be refusing all first and second years at the door. They include: Andy Clarke – Dundalk Grammar; Kieran Mulligan – De La Salle; Seana McGrade McKeever – Bush; Connie Thompson – St Vincents; Ben Miller – Coláiste Rís; Ira Lawlor – O Fiaich College; Aaron Byrne – Marist, Katie McDonald – Ardee; Orlaith Healy – Dun Lughaidh and Ashley Molloy – Dunleer.

Valleys stars give Dundalk the thumbs up

Lateysha Grace and Nicole Morris, two of the stars of MTV show The Valleys, were in Dundalk last night for the School’s Out Party run by Intensity in Ridley’s.

Hundreds of local teenagers got to meet the Welsh women, who later gave the town a big thumbs up on Twitter.