WATCH: Barry Rogers previews the 2021 Tour De Munster in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland

“I’m doing something I love for someone I love so I couldn’t spend the four days any better way.”

Those were the words of Barry Rogers who is taking part in the 21st annual cycling event which sees over 120 cyclists pedal 600km around Munster, raising funds and awareness for Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI).

The goal of DSI is to enable children born with Down syndrome to be as independent as possible, and through the great work of the Tour de Munster cyclists and supporters, DSI can access the funding needed to help more young people with Down syndrome develop and flourish in practical ways.

Founder of the tour, Paul Sheridan said:

“I started Tour de Munster back in 2001 as I wanted to do something to support children’s charities while doing something that I love – cycling. It’s an important milestone this year and given the times we are living in – fundraising for children in need is more important than it hlas been since the first charity cycle back in 2001.

“The Tour is a real endurance test for participants. A huge amount of hard work and dedication goes into preparing for a tour like this. These cyclists dedicate months to training and fundraising. Without their support, none of this would be possible.” 

This year’s cycle gets underway this Thursday 5th August until Sunday 8th, with around 150 cyclists starting off at the English Market in Cork. Tour de Munster has raised a significant sum of money for some worthy beneficiaries. The tour has raised over €3 million for the Munster branch of Down Syndrome Ireland since they became the main beneficiary of the cycle in 2010.

Barry Rogers has three children, Ailish (8), Liam (7) & Fiadh who is three years of age. He first became involved with the cycle in 2011, before his youngest daughter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

“I knew very little about Down Syndrome at that stage but I was quite taken aback by the organisation and the work of Down Syndrome Munster branches and its fantastic members.”

Barry Rogers with daughter Fiadh

All of the funds raised go directly to the charity, the cyclists pay for their own food and accommodation over the weekend.

Barry has first hand experience of how these crucial funds go to use to help families in need.

“When the parents get a diagnosis of Down Syndrome for their baby, it’s quite an anxious time. You have a lot of worry and we found fantastic supports in the charity. We got great guidance and reassurance – it’s invaluable.

For example, with the Down Syndrome Limerick branch, Fiadh has done a lot of speech and language therapy. Even during lockdown, there was monthly zoom one-on-one calls with the speech and language therapist which Fiadh has greatly benefitted from.”

Watch the full interview with Rogers in full below.


To donate to this year’s Tour de Munster, visit www.idonate.ie/tdm

For route information and news, log onto www.tourdemunster.com or the Tour de Munster Facebook page.


Route

2021 Tour de Munster Route

Stage 1: Cork – Limerick

Thursday, August 5th, 2021

Cork (Silversprings Hotel): 8:00am – 8:45am

The English Market (Grand Parade) : 8:25 – 9:25am

Midleton: 10:25am – 10:40am

Tallow – 11:40am-11:40pm

Lismore: 12:10pm – 12:30pm

Clogheen (Clogheen Community Hall): 1:25pm – 2:00pm

Cahir: 2:30pm – 2:30pm

Tipperary: 3:30pm – 3:30pm

Ballykisteen(Lunch): 3:40pm – 4:30pm

Limerick (King John’s Castle): 5:20pm – 5:50pm

Stage 2: Limerick – Tralee

Friday, August 6th, 2021

Limerick (The Savoy Hotel): 9:00am

Quin: 10.30am

Ennis: (tea/coffee: Temple Gate Hotel): 11.15am -11.45am

Kildysart: 1:00pm – 1:00pm

Kilimer (Ferry – Lunch on Board): 2:00pm – 2:00pm

Tarbert : 2:20pm – 2:20pm

Listowel ( tea/coffee & scone: Christy’s pub): 3:10pm – 3:40pm

Tralee (The Rose Hotel): 4:40pm

Stage 3: Tralee – Kenmare

Saturday, August 7th, 2021

Tralee: 9:45am

Stradbally: 10:20am – 10:20am

Dingle (Lunch: Skellig Hotel): 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Castlemaine (refreshments: MACE, N70/R561 junction): 2:30pm – 2:50pm

Milltown: 3:00pm – 3:00pm

Aghadoe Heights: 3:45pm – 3:55pm

Killarney (break: Deenagh lodge): 4:00pm – 4:30pm

Kenmare (Lansdowne Arms Hotel): 5:45pm

Stage 4: Kenmare – Cork

Sunday, August 8th, 2021

Kenmare: 10am

Caha Pass

Glengarriff (tea/coffee: The Maple Leaf Bar): 11:00am – 11:30am

Ballylickey: 12:00pm – 12:00pm

Gouganebarra (lunch): 1:00pm – 1:45pm

Ballingeary: 2:05pm

Inchigeela: 2:35pm

Macroom: 3:15pm – 3:15pm

Lissarda (break): 3:35pm – 3:50pm

Cork (Clayton Silversprings Hotel): 5:15pm.

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Joe Saunders