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| Kieran Kehoe (CEO, Meath County Council) and Cllr Sharon Tolan (Cathaoirleach, Meath County Council) with Chris Reilly of Bohermeen Cycling Club at the launch of Meath County Council’s support of the finish in Bective. |
Bective Stud to Host the Climax of the 70th Rás Tailteann
On Sunday, May 25th, 2025, the 70th edition of Rás Tailteann will reach its thrilling conclusion at Bective Stud, Co. Meath, returning for a second year as the host for the final finish. After five punishing days and over 760 km of racing—from Drogheda to Boyle, Clifden, Miltown Malbay and Mountrath—the peloton is expected to roll into Bective at approximately 2:00 PM, where they will complete four laps of a 12 km circuit around the local area.
Once in Bective, each circuit offers fresh opportunities for local crowds to cheer the sprinters, support breakaways, or witness the decisive move that settles the overall general classification. As the sun-dappled roads fill with excitement, Bective Stud will host a family fun day while a grandstand overlooking the finish line provides seating. A giant screen, sponsored by Bective Stud, Meath County Council and Discover Boyne Valley, will broadcast every sprint and attack in real time, bringing the drama to life for fans of all ages.
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| Back Row: Cllr Edward Fennessy (Mayor of Navan), Gearóid Campbell (Cairde Rás Tailteann), Kieran Kehoe (CEO, Meath County Council), Ger Campbell (Race Director, Rás Tailteann), Cllr Paul O’Rourke, Cllr Wayne Harding. Front Row: Chris Reilly (Bohermeen Cycling Club), Cllr Sharon Tolan (Cathaoirleach, Meath County Council). |
Ger Campbell, Race Director, said:
“Bringing our 70th edition to Bective for a proper finale means so much—not just for the riders but for the countless communities who’ve supported us since 1953. From 2:00 PM, those four laps will transform Bective into a party of pedals, screams and cheers. A huge thanks has to go to Bective Stud, Meath County Council and Discover Boyne Valley for making this happen”.
Kieran Kehoe, CEO of Meath County Council, added:
“Meath is proud of its cycling heritage. Hosting the Rás finale here showcases our villages and countryside to an international field, and we’re delighted to welcome visitors young and old to experience our hospitality.”
Emma Gill, Marketing Manager at Discover Boyne Valley, commented:
“The Boyne Valley is built on stories—mythical, historical and sporting. The Rás weaves them all together, and Bective embodies that spirit. Visitors will leave with memories as vivid as our landscapes.”
Finish Dedicated to Noel Clarke
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| Noel Clarke |
This year’s finale is dedicated to Noel Clarke, whose life is truly entwined with the Rás Tailteann. A native of Bective, Noel first burst onto the scene as a competitor in the late 1960s, going on to claim multiple stage victories—including three in the unforgettable 1975 edition—and etching his name alongside legends of Irish cycling.
Yet it is his unwavering service off the bike that cements his legacy. Since hanging up his race wheels, Noel has volunteered continuously for over five decades, guiding riders safely through each finish and standing at those same Bective circuit corners as a route marker, rain or shine. His encyclopaedic knowledge of every hedge, corner and cobbled shoulder has helped generations of organisers and riders navigate the Rás with confidence.
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| The award in dedication to Noel Clarke. (Graphics: Alan Bingham) |
Ger Campbell, a longtime friend of Noel’s, added:
“Noel Clarke is more than a Rás official—he’s a pillar of this event. We’ve shared route debates and laughter for years. His stage wins were legendary, but it’s his decades of friendship and dedication that truly define him. To dedicate our final finish to him in his hometown is our way of saying thank you.”
As the 70th Rás Tailteann crosses its final line here, it does so in honour of Bective’s community spirit—and of Noel Clarke’s decades of living, breathing and loving this race.
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| Ger Campbell and Noel Clarke being inducted into the Cycling Ireland Hall of Fame. (Photo: Cycling Ireland) |
