Killeshin 400 (Blackstairs, Wicklow & Slieve Bloom Mountains)
Organiser: Seamus O’Leary
Event Date: 21st June 2025
E-Mail: seamusoleary9@gmail.com
Entry will be on Eventmaster only, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SELECT THE CORRECT “TICKET” FOR YOUR RIDE, 300KM OR 400KM !
Eventmaster Link: https://eventmaster.ie/event/bqz7H9AHjr
Start Location: Killeshin Community Centre (just outside Carlow town).
Facilities/Parking: Parking available at and/or nearby community centre.
Helmets and Cycling Ireland Licence are mandatory. One-day Licence is available if required, cost €10, and will be charged on Eventmaster if you do not provide a valid current Cycling Ireland Licence Number.
Entry Fee: €5
This event can also be ridden as a Permanent, on a date of your choice, by arrangement with Seamus. Please see the Permanents page for more details. https://www.audaxireland.org/audax/permanents/
Optional ACP or Audax Ireland Medals €7 each
Closing date for entries: Tuesday 17th June 2025
Start time 6.00am. 5.30am for Registration.
RWGPS Map:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34419991
Routesheet:
Helmets and Cycling Ireland Licence are mandatory. One-day Licence is available if required, cost €10, and will be charged on Eventmaster if you do not provide a valid current Cycling Ireland Licence Number.
Start Location: Killeshin Community Centre (just outside Carlow town).
Facilities/Parking: Parking available at and/or nearby community centre.
Route Description:
Controls as follows: Killeshin; Templeudigan (68km); Rathvilly (136km); Sally Gap (200km); Athy (263km); Clonaslee (309km); and Borris-in-Ossory (352km), Killeshin (400km).
The first section of this route follows the Carlow county boundary, taking in surrounding counties and some of Carlow’s best scenery. Starting in Killeshin village with an immediate steep climb to the top of Rossmore Hill for good views across Carlow, the route then descends quickly to cross the River Barrow. The next climb of the route comes before Graignamanagh, Co Kilkenny leading to great views of the entire Blackstairs Mountain range. Rolling hills along the Carlow boundaries with Wexford and Wicklow are broken up with views of Mount Leinster, the Slaney River and Lugnaquilla.
From Rathvilly, the second section of this route cuts across into the Wicklow Mountains. Some steady but rewarding climbs await on Slieve Maan, past the Shay Eliot monument and up to the Sally Gap. The route then heads southwest to Athy, across flat terrain in Kildare and Laois.
The route’s third section from Clonaslee starts with a steady climb up to The Cut. The route then descends southwards from the Slieve Bloom Mountains into Borris-in-Ossory, before turning east over some rolling hills across the south of County Laois, and back to Killeshin.
Numerous re-fuelling opportunities at shops along the route, particularly in Graiguenamanagh (53km), Bunclody (97km), Rathvilly (136km), Blessington (218km), Athy (262km), Mountmellick (295km), Borris-in-Ossory (352km) and Abbeyleix (373km).