1953 - The First RÁS
Nov 6, 2004, 12:13
By Sean O'Laighin
(Editor's note: Reproduced from the programme for 1977 Ras, political sentiments expressed are those of the people quoted)
At 2.00 p.m. on a wet and stormy Saturday, in 1953, seventy three cyclists moved off from Dublin's G.P.O. Few of them realised that they were moving into history. For they were the competitors in the first RÁS Tailteann which went from Dublin to Wexford on September 19 and returned to Dublin the following day, a round trip of 200 miles.
Flamboyance and Showmanship
And although it was an initial effort, it already bore the characteristics that were to mark out RÁS Tailteann as an event apart. It had a sense of flamboyance and showmanship, an involvement with the public, and cultural and historical links not just with Ireland generally but in a particular way with the route and the stage-end. At the G.P.O. a wreath of laurel picked in Co. Meath at the very site of the ancient Aonach Tailteann, was presented to a promising young cyclist, Pat Murphy who was to lay it at '98 Memorial in Wexford the following morning, forging a symbolic link between pre-Christian Ireland, the Ireland of 1798, and our own time. The cyclists were sent off by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Eugene Timmons who said that the fact that the four provinces were represented indicated that the N.C.A. was animated by the spirit of a united Ireland, and it was fitting that the RÁS should begin at the G.P.O. Conditions were as bad as were ever subsequently experienced in a Ras. A rainstorm broke as the cyclists left Dublin, and there was a strong headwind against them all the way and continuous heavy rain until they reached Ferns. The weather was fairly good at the stage-end in Wexford town and a huge crowd was present to cheer Mick Corr of Cork over the line. Before the start of the second stage on Sunday morning, there was a parade to the '98 monument where a large crowd had gathered.
Victory Laurel
Mick Corr's first stage victory was marked by the Mayor, Councillor .Morris, who placed a laurel over his shoulders. The Mayor paid tribute to the N.C.A. and in particular to the Ulster cyclists who had taken part, and congratulated a local 16 year old, Des McGuire, who had completed the stage in spite of the appalling conditions. Mr. Joe Christle, one of the organisers, emphasised the historical significance of selecting Wexford as the stage- end. In no other county, he said, was the idea of a united Ireland more forcibly felt than in Wexford, and the presence of British occupation forces in the country showed that much remained to be done. He continued "In the field of sport, we could never be denied complete independence. No doubt, we could lose certain privileges by maintaining that independence, but we prefer national honour to international dishonour". The laurel wreath from the pre-historic site of Aonach Tailteann was then placed on the monument by Pat Murphy of the Gate Club. With the wreath was a watercolour portrait of Cuchulainn and an inscription dedicating the members of the Association to their heritage as a nation.
Christle Wins
The race got under way with Frank Reilly (Meath) going away on his own. He was caught by Con Carr (Kildare) and Leo Collins (Meath) and this group led by two minutes at New Ross. At Camross, Colm Christle (Gate) and Kerry Sloan (N.Kildare) made a move and closed with the leaders. At Carlow, Christle punctured, but lost little time and caught the leaders again. Coming into Dublin, the race lay between a group of eight Carr, Sloan, Christle, J. Moran (Wicklow), P. Fitzgerald (Kerry), T. Cauldwell (Belfast), P. Kenna (Gate) and O. Culleton (Wexford), and in an exciting finish, Colm Christle got in ahead of Culleton and Kenna, to win both the stage and the Ras. A two-day race might seem a small beginning, but so convinced were the organisers that they were on to a great idea, that a few days later a letter of thanks was sent to all who had contributed to the success of the first Ras. In the course of the letter, they said: "That inspiration may carry us to an eight-day event. It will be up to all of us to throw our full weight into it, as only by 100%support of all members can such a gigantic sports event be realised". And realised it was, for the second RÁS was indeed an eight-day event. Not only that, but the 32 county nature of the Association was emphasised by stage ends at Armagh and Newry (the last two before the finish in Dublin). As a matter of interest, the route of that stage from Armagh to Newry was via Dungannon, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Ballymena, Antrim, Lisburn, Lurgan and on to Newry. But that is a story in itself.
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