A TROUPE of cycling butcher boys, messengers and bonneted ladies toured Dublin city yesterday, raising over €40,000 for charity.
The annual Bloomsday rally, raising funds for the Irish Youth Foundation, saw cyclists in Edwardian costume taking to the streets on vintage bicycles from the early 20th century.
The cyclists, who kicked off the day with Dublin Lord Mayor Gerry Breen at a “Molly Malone” singalong, snaked through the city streets ringing their bicycle bells before first stopping at the Stag’s Head for a refreshing glass of Guinness.
Two more pubs were on the route – the Grand Central on O’Connell St and the Quays in Temple Bar – before a lunch in Trinity College.
“This is our second year doing it. We like the fact that it’s basically a Garda-escorted pub crawl,” said a high-spirited Tom O’Brien, cycling for Providence Resources.
“In aid of a good cause, of course,” he added.
The grand marshal of the event, Graham Wilkinson, clothed in top hat and overcoat, said Edwardian-themed dress was not compulsory, but strongly encouraged.
As one of the founding members, Wilkinson has been taking part in the cycle for 18 years.
The charity had sold all 80 places for the event and 270 places at the lunch afterwards, and it expected to bring in at least €42,000, said Mr Wilkinson.
The restored messenger bicycles were provided by Wolfe Cycles, a family business on Sundrive Road in Kimmage.
Bloomsday, the annual festival celebrating James Joyce's famous novel Ulysses, takes place next Thursday.