Tour de force as thousands saddle up in Kerry

You know when Irishmen start talking about organic pomegranate juice with the same fervour that once applied to pints that things are getting serious.

But just as the barstool philosophers of old thought they could solve the world’s problems over an afternoon tipple, a new breed of Irish male believes he can take on anything with a bright Lycra uniform, a shining bike frame, and the right potions to get him through.

They took to the roads in their thousands for the Ring of Kerry charity cycle on Saturday. And anyone confronted with the sight would have wondered whether there was a male left in the rest of country aged between 30 and 65.