We strongly recommend you head to the West of Ireland for a very special cycling tour for ECF delegates. This is a bespoke cycle tour being organised by Cyclist.ie group ‘Sligo Cycles’ and we know that Gemma and Patricia will give you a warm welcome in the West! And once again plenty of ‘off-piste’ entertainment.

The Sligo tours will bring you to the literary world of our Nobel laureate William Butler Yeats. WB Yeats is considered by many to be the greatest English language poet of the 20th Century. Throughout his life he wrote about Sligo and the beauty, folklore and spirituality of the surrounding landscape. The tour will take in his burial place at Drumcliffe and Ben Bulben mountain’s glens and lakes featured in his poems.

The passage tombs from the early Neolithic Age at Carrowmore/Knocknarea mountain, Co. Sligo, is a highly conspicuous landscape feature of this coastal area. The mountain was a focal point in an extensive ritual landscape during the Neolithic Age, indicated by the large number of passage tombs close to, as well as on the mountain. On its flat summit, the large passage tomb cairn creates a visual focus for the whole region. We know that the earliest evidence for settle agriculture in Europe had its origins on the Western seaboard of Ireland.

Full details of the schedule are as follows:

Breath in the sea air of the wild Atlantic, experience spectacular scenery including the majestic Benbulben, cycle on quiet tranquil country roads along the North West Trail, around Lough Gill, over the Ox Mountains or on the many cycle routes spanning the length of Sligo.

SligoCycles invites delegates of the ECF AGM to come west to Sligo and experience cycling on the wild Atlantic coast. There will be a warm welcome as we take you on a tour of the pubs with the best traditional music sessions, experience a Sligo ‘cead mile failte’ in our hotels, hostels or Bed & Breakfasts – and even fit in some cycling! We have arranged cycle hire with Buzz Bikes, who have scoped out some of the best cycle trails in the West of Ireland, south west over the Ox Mountains or north up towards Benbulben. Walk in the footsteps of W.B. Yeats, drop into the The Model to view paintings by, internationally renowned artist, Jack B. Yeats or visit megalithic tombs older than the pyramids of Egypt. Also included in the tour is a night out with our local drama group Profile Theatre who will be performing a one act play - Thirst by Flann O’Brien. This all takes place in the convivial surroundings of McGarrigles Pub. It’s all available at your fingertips. Contact Board Failte for your tourist information pack. Come West – we look forward to welcoming you.