A runner, a runner and a Taoiseach go racing

THE late Charles Haughey famously won the Tour de France for Ireland with a little help from Stephen Roche, and yesterday it was the turn of the current Taoiseach to give a dig-out to one of our cycling heroes.

Enda Kenny was in Dungarvan in full cycling regalia (blue shirt and all) to lead out thousands of participants in this year’s Sean Kelly Tour, in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. Seeing as he managed to get through the morning without falling off his bike, causing a crash or running over any innocent cats, the event could only be deemed a success.

So successful, in fact, with up to 8,000 cyclists of all shapes and sizes taking part in four different routes over the weekend, that the Taoiseach has decided that cycling will be a metaphor for the country’s route to recovery, with the former world number one as its figurehead.