THE milestone 25th annual Brennans Bloomsday Bike Rally & Lunch in aid of the Irish Youth Foundation will see hundreds of Dubliners take to bikes of all shapes and sizes on Friday, June 8 to celebrate Bloomsday and James Joyce’s masterpiece Ulysses.
The Irish Youth Foundation and Brennans Bread will be on their bikes once again this year to journey through Joycean Dublin for the 25th annual bike rally, which has gone from strength to strength over the past two decades and promises to be an even more exciting event this year.
This year the money is going towards the Clay Youth Project in Crumlin which provides a range of services to enhance life skills and opportunities for young people in the area.
Clay helps to increase their sense of belonging and ownership through active participation at all levels within the project and the community.
The annual bike rally, sponsored by Brennans Bread, raised almost €50,000 in 2017 and has raised over €1 million to date for Irish Youth Foundation-supported projects around the country.
These work to create positive differences in the lives of children and young people facing adversity and have included St Agnes Youth Orchestra, Just Ask Homework Club, Core Youth Service and Fighting Words.
On the Friday, Marshall Graham Wilkinson will give over 150 cyclists their countdown at St Stephen’s Green, before the rally makes its way to The Mansion House for a rousing rendition of Molly Malone with Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Micheál Mac Donncha.
The cyclists, some dressed in their finest Edwardian attire, will then embark on a colourful and fun three-hour journey through the streets of Dublin.
Over 300 guests will welcome the rally to the ballroom at The Shelbourne Hotel for a fun-filled lunch and charity auction in the company of MC Bryan Dobson, with all proceeds going to the Irish Youth Foundation projects.
Ivan Hammond of Brennans Bread said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Bloomsday Bike Rally for the sixth year running and help in raising much-needed funds to benefit the amazing work of so many youth organisations around the country.
“We are extremely impressed with the energy, dedication and passion of the team in the Clay Youth Project.
“And we are really delighted to support their ongoing commitment to at risk and marginalised children and young people in the Crumlin area.”
To take part in the 25th annual Bloomsday bike rally and lunch on Friday, June 8, contact Sarah on 0877622946 / sarah@iyf.ie or visit www.iyf.ie.