The Rás Tailteann: A History of Ireland's Stage Race

Introduction

The An Post Rás (often simply called the Rás) began in 1953 as a two-day race that started and finished in Dublin, run by a governing body the international federation would not recognise. Seven decades later it carries a UCI rating and still depends on local volunteers to close its roads. In between came a bitter split, a long isolation from world competition, a reconciliation, and a four-year gap when the sponsorship money ran out. Most of that happened on roads you can ride yourself.

Origins: A Race Born of Division and Determination

The National Cycling Association (NCA) and Joe Christle

In the early 1950s Irish cycling was split among three governing bodies: the National Cycling Association (NCA), the Cumann Rothaiochta na hÉireann (CRÉ) and the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation (NICF). The NCA, which represented the majority of clubs in the Republic, was not recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Undeterred, Joe Christle, a former Irish champion and a charismatic organiser, founded the Rás Tailteann in 1953 as the NCA’s flagship stage race.

The inaugural edition was a two-day event that started and finished in Dublin, covering roughly 300 km. Colm Christle, son of the founder, won the first General Classification, cementing the race’s link with local families and clubs.

Early Growth and the Tailteann Connection

Naming the race Rás Tailteann deliberately evoked the ancient Tailteann Games, a Gaelic festival dating back to the early medieval period. This cultural branding gave the race an aura of national pride and helped attract crowds even when international teams were barred from participation due to the NCA’s UCI exclusion.

The Golden Era: Legends, Unification and International Recognition

The NCA’s Isolation and Home-grown Heroes

Because the NCA could not field UCI-registered teams, the Rás became a showcase for Irish amateurs willing to risk suspension. This gave rise to legendary figures such as:

Rider	Notable Achievements
Gene Mangan	12 stage wins across the 1960s, a single overall victory (1965)
Sé O’Hanlon	Four overall titles (1962, 1965-67) and 24 stage wins
Paddy Flanagan	Three overall wins (1960, 1964, 1975) and 11 stage victories

Their exploits turned the Rás into a “people’s race”. Supporters lined the roads for every ascent and sprint, and the riders were their own clubmates and neighbours.

Unification Talks and the First Open Field

The late 1960s saw the NCA, CRÉ and NICF begin talks that would eventually dissolve the three-body divide. In 1974 a CRÉ-aligned team entered the race, and in 1979 the Rás opened to both CRÉ and NICF riders. This watershed allowed future Irish great Stephen Roche, then a rising star on the national team, to win the 1979 edition, heralding a new era of international credibility.

Sponsorship Evolution

From 1953 to the early 1980s the race ran under its original name. The first commercial title appeared in 1973 as the Tayto Rás Tailteann, followed by a series of sponsors that reflected Ireland’s changing economy:

• 1984-2004, FBD Milk Rás
• 2005-2010, FBD Insurance Rás
• 2011-2017, An Post Rás

Each sponsor brought increased prize money, better media coverage and, crucially, the ability to apply for UCI classification.

UCI 2.2 Status and Olympic Points

In 2005 the race earned a UCI 2.2 rating, placing it on the Europe Tour calendar. This meant that riders could earn points toward Olympic qualification and the World Championships, attracting professional continental squads from the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and beyond. The race’s profile rose dramatically, with televised highlights on RTÉ Sport and later TG4.

The Hiatus: Sponsorship Collapse and a Four-Year Gap

After the 2017 edition, An Post withdrew its title sponsorship, leaving a funding void. Organisers struggled to secure a new principal sponsor, and in February 2019 Cycling Ireland announced that the Rás would not take place that year. The race remained absent for 2019, 2020 and 2021, a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further complicated any revival attempts.

Revival: The Rás Returns (2022-Present)

2022: A New Chapter

The race re-emerged in June 2022 under the historic name Rás Tailteann, organized by Cairde Rás Tailteann with support from Cycling Ireland and a consortium of local sponsors. The 2022 edition featured a five-day, 650 km route that traversed the Midlands, Wicklow Mountains and Coastal West, highlighting both classic climbs (e.g., the Mullaghcarn ascent) and scenic seaside sections.

Irish rider Daire Feeley won the General Classification, and the event attracted over 150 riders from 15 nations, signalling a successful comeback.

2023-2024: Expanding the Field

In 2023 the race grew to six stages, adding a challenging Cavan-based time trial and a final sprint finish in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Dillon Corkery, a home-grown talent, claimed overall victory, while the race’s live streaming on Cycling Ireland’s YouTube channel reached an audience of over 200 000 worldwide.

The 2024 edition continued the upward trajectory, with Dom Jackson (UK) taking the yellow jersey after a decisive mountain finish on Mount Leinster. The event now routinely attracts a mix of UCI Continental squads, elite amateur clubs, and “club-friendly” Irish teams, preserving its original ethos while embracing modern professionalism.

The Rás’s Impact on Irish Cycling Tourism

Route Highlights for Holiday Riders

Region	Signature Climb / Feature	Tourist Appeal
Wicklow Mountains	Ballymore Gap (9 km, 7 % avg)	Forest trails, historic monasteries
Coastal Galway	Clifden Loop (rolling coastal roads)	Wild Atlantic Way vistas, seafood towns
Midlands	Lough Ennell Circuit (flat, fast)	Castle tours, fishing lakes
Northern Ireland	Mourne Mountains (steep climbs)	Giant’s Causeway, Belfast murals

Between them these routes cover most of what the island offers in the way of terrain, from flat and fast around Lough Ennell to the steep stuff in the Mournes. Many visitors time their trips to coincide with the race, hoping to catch a stage start or finish in towns like Kilkenny, Cavan, or Cork.

Community Involvement

Each stage is supported by local volunteers who provide road closures, refreshments and a festive atmosphere. Towns often organise stage-town festivals, featuring live music, traditional food stalls and opportunities for tourists to mingle with riders. This community spirit has been credited with boosting local economies, a 2023 economic impact study estimated €3.2 million in direct spending across host towns.

Practical Information for Spectators and Riders

Item	Details
Typical dates	Early to mid-May (occasionally June, as in 2022)
Race length	5-6 stages, 600-800 km total
Accommodation	Wide range, from B&Bs in rural villages to city hotels in Dublin and Galway
Transport	Public bus routes link most stage towns; bike-friendly train services (Iarnród Éireann) run to major hubs
Spectator tips	Arrive early for mountain finishes, use designated viewing zones, respect road closures
Cyclist entry	Open to UCI-registered teams, elite amateur clubs, and “club-friendly” entries (subject to qualification points)
Live coverage	Daily highlights on TG4, full stage streams on Cycling Ireland’s YouTube channel, live timing via the official Rás Tailteann app

The Rás in the Wider Cycling Landscape

The An Post Rás remains one of the few European stage races that combine UCI points, historic charm, and grass-roots accessibility. While races such as the Tour of Britain or Tour de Suisse attract WorldTour teams, the Rás continues to be a proving ground for emerging talent from Ireland, the UK and continental Europe. Riders like Aaron Gate (New Zealand) and Clemens Fankhauser (Austria) have used strong Rás performances as springboards to higher-level contracts.

Moreover, the race’s revival aligns with Ireland’s broader ambition to become a cycling tourism destination, alongside initiatives such as Bike Ireland’s “Cycle the Wild Atlantic” routes and the development of EuroVelo 2 sections across the island.

Conclusion

From a two-day start in 1953 to a UCI-rated event streamed worldwide, the An Post Rás has followed Ireland’s own course: division, then unity, then a gap when the money ran out. It came back. What holds the race together is not the UCI rating but the riders it has produced and the towns that still turn out for it.

Stages usually run in early to mid-May, occasionally June. If you want to watch, check the calendar before you fix your dates, and choose a mountain finish over a town-centre sprint. The sprint is over in seconds; on a climb the race comes past slowly enough to see.