St Brendan’s Christmas Bike-a-thon Challenge returns

CLERGY Together in Birr comprise the Very Revd. Tom Hogan, PP and Rev. Fr Antony Sajeesh of St Brendan’s Roman Catholic Church, The Revd Nigel Gill of the Methodist Church, Mr John Bulfin of New Life Church and The Reverend Arthur Minion, on behalf of the Church of Ireland.

St Brendan's Christmas Bike-a-thon Challenge will take place on Friday December 8th. and Saturday December 9th 2023 (the traditional official shopping weekend for Christmas) from 8am to 8pm each day. They had such heartwarming support from the people of the town and its countryside last year when the event raised €4,586.

The charities they are supporting this year are: St Vincent de Paul, Offaly Healthy Homes Meals on Wheels, the Birr branch (Ashfield Day Centre) of Avista: Supporting People with Disabilities, and Birr Hospice Cancer Care. The funds raised this year will be awarded at the Ecumenical Carol Service in Birr Methodist Church on Sunday evening December 17th at 7.30pm.

They extend their appreciation to the Municipal District of Birr and An Garda Siochána for their support and guidance.

Each day is divided into 36 cycle slots of 20 minutes each on Exercise Bikes,  kindly sponsored by The House of Fitness, Syngefield. Please contact Revd Arthur Minion (086) 8251056 to assist with a cycle slot on the rota on Emmet Square on Friday and Saturday from 8am-8pm. Politicians to sports organisations, drama players to schools, dance groups to County Councillors, journalists, clergy, walkers and talkers, adults and Cchildren, there was room for all. They had some 130 people take part last year. The clergy will be there to fill cycle slots where members of the public have to make a last minute cancellation and will much enjoy the opportunity of a 'meet and greet' with all on the street. They also extend their appreciation to Birr Municipal District for the provision of a Geo Dome to protect all from the weather, to An Garda Siochana for the provision of the permit and looking after their exercise bikes overnight, and to all who assist with the bucket collection rota.