Heavy metal thunder as police bikers go on tour

Anyone with an outdated tax disc may have got a fright yesterday morning if they were in the vicinity of Kilkenny Castle, as 160 motorcycle police officers gathered in force.

They were off duty, however, and in the city for the annual tour of the international Blue Knight Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, taking place this year in Ireland.

The event is promoting law enforcement and sees the 160 officers — boosted to 170 with the arrival of 10 more last night — from up to 12 countries touring around the southern half of the country from yesterday to next Sunday, when they will finish up in Killarney.

First stop after the departure from The Parade beside Kilkenny Castle was the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary before they biked over The Vee into Cork, down to Cobh, and across to Kinsale.

“We’re highlighting safe riding on motorcycles during the week,” said Irish chapter organiser Sgt Brendan Condon, adding that participants are wearing high-visibility vests and adopting safe practices.

“This is what motorcycle police do on their days off.”

Among those present to wave them off were Mayor of Kilkenny Seán Ó hArgáin and regional traffic Garda boss Supt Pascal Connolly.

Irish chapter members are working as guides on the tour and have spent months preparing the routes.

Mr Ó hArgáin said: “It’s quite a sight to see on a Monday morning and I am sure they are going to have a great time exploring the country”.

Tom Cody, a sheriff from the Chicago area, has a strong Irish background. “My dad is a Mullinahone, Co Tipp man while my mum came from Mayo.

“It’s great to get a chance to see some of the country my family came from.”

The group made their way off at 9.15am, although one member, Bill Hedley, from Culcheth near Warrington in England was lagging a little behind.

“I normally wait for the others to go before jump-starting my 1949 Series B Vincent HRD and setting off. While it might not be the quickest to start when we came off the ferry yesterday I was last as usual but the first to arrive in Kilkenny. I actually had a pint of Guinness in front of me when the others finally got here,” he said.

The convoy includes police from the US, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Austria.