Cycling festival for opening of grethisenway sunday

The midlands greenway will be officially opened at 12.30pm on Sunday October 18 by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The greenway is part of a national and European greenway network and is likely to be called the ‘Old Rail trail’, say Moate Action Group (MAG).

The opening will be part of the first ever Moate Bike Fest – a free family fun day to celebrate all things cycling.

The Moate Bike Fest will include a spectacular stunt bike display from the renowned Savage Skills, the UK’s leading freestyle mountain bike stunt team (suitable for audiences of all ages).

There will also be performances by Tonnta Street Theatre and Community Arts Group, a key performer at the Notting Hill Carnival, and an associate member of Masquerade 2000, the largest Carnival Band in Europe.

Other activities throughout the day will include High Nellie activities, bike displays, stands including the Road Safety Authority and Westmeath Sports Partnership, live music and more.

Moate Action Group (MAG) welcomes the greenway and the benefits it will bring to the town, recognising hard work will be required to ensure that the full benefits accrue.

In a statement, MAG said: Westmeath County Council, and in particular Barry Kehoe, director of service, and Michael Kelly, engineer in charge of the greenway, are to be complimented on delivering on this important project, and also on the standard of work which has been carried out on the greenway, but particularly on the restoration works carried out on Moate Railway Station.

The construction company KESLO have transformed a derelict site into a thing of beauty for the town, surrounding area and the numerous visitors expected to arrive via the greenway.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

• 11.30am, Community Hall – Band assembles and march to Station

• 12.30pm, Railway Station – Taoiseach arrives; Mullingar Town Band playing on platform; speakers; unveiling of plaque; cut ribbon

• 1pm, Procession to centre of town; Savage Skills start show in front of hotel; Mullingar Town Band escort Taoiseach to town and march back to community hall for refreshments

• 1.15pm, Keith Allen Band

• 1.30pm, Savage Skills

• 1.50pm, music

• 2.20pm, Savage Skills

• 2.40pm, music

• 3pm, Savage Skills, final show

• 3.15pm, Comhaltas

Competitions
Slow bicycle Race

Bling your Bike

Fancy Dress

Also

Bicycle Shop stands along street

Tea/coffee and sandwiches at community centre