Sunday Heritage cycle in South Galway

LABANE and Ardrahan Community Development Association (LACDA) is inviting members of the public to take part in a family cycle on the ‘Old Galway Road’, in south Galway on Sunday next (August 14)

This part of the Old Galway Road is still marked by a series of 18th-century milestones. The milestones are set in the roadside verges between Kilcolgan and Gort at intervals of one old Irish mile, which equates to around 2 km. The surviving milestones are relics of an earlier era of travel by coach, cart and horseback, and date to around 1750. The roads at the time were gravelled surfaces between stone dykes, typically 21ft wide. As services like coach travel and mail coach delivery were charged by the mile, the milestones were important in keeping order on the daily commerce of the highways.

LACDA is currently engaged in a project to record and conserve the milestones, with generous support from Galway County Council and the Heritage Council.

A Heritage Week cycle ride follow a 17km loop starting and ending at the Loughnane and Quinn Memorial Hall in Labane. There will be a 30 minute-break at Drumharsna Castle for refreshments. Participants are asked to bring their own drinks, snacks. There will also be a talk about aspects of transport and travel in Ireland from prehistory to modern times. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. Numbers are limited. The South Galway Milestones Project (recording and conservation 2021–22) is supported by grants Galway County Council and the Heritage Council.

The event is free of charge, and registration for tickets can be done Eventbrite.ie. More information is available from labaneardrahancda@gmail.com