A Page dedicated to the outdoor life - cycling the "auld high nelly bike" with the Bulfin Heritage Cycle Rally ... walking country roads and "auld boreens" ... promoting Durrow Counity Bike Hire Scheme ... and anything else I encounter along the way! At the turn of the last century, in a time when the humble bicycle was regarded as somewhat of a wonder in Rural Ireland, a man named William Bulfin
from Derrinlough, Co. Offaly, braved the sometimes hazardous weather conditions and rough terrain of the Irish countryside to complete a three thousand mile round trip on his brand new High Nelly bicycle, purchased from Pierce Engineering in Wexford. Bulfin wrote "Rambles in Eireann" a travelogue about this unique adventure that encapsulated the rich beauty of the Irish landscape and the importance of our own heritage. Now a group of High Nelly cycling and Heritage enthusiasts have come together to pay tribute to this great man and his unique adventure. The Derrinlough to Durrow, High Nelly Heritage cycle is a 110k 2day adventure that retraces one of William Bulfin's, "Rambles in Eirinn" bicycle journeys, visiting the Heritage towns of Birr, Roscrea and Abbeyleix, and just like Bulfin, regaling in the Heritage of the Irish countryside, embracing the historical importance of the "Book of Dimma" and the "Rock of Dunamaise" before pushing on to the historic and picturesque town of Durrow, Co. Laois where William Bulfin lingered on his bicycle journey in 1902, describing this lovely town as; "A Gem in the Basin of the Nore". The Derrinlough to Durrow High Nelly Heritage Cycle will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 & 30th 2015 as part of National Heritage Week series of events.
Having completed this unique journey, William Bulfin could be regarded as a pioneer of Irish High Nelly cycling.
