You Are Here: About the race  > Event Quotes
Quotes
Quotes from the 2011 Event

“As well as being a fantastic bike race, the Race Around Ireland has to be the nicest and most hospitable team to ever organise a cycle event. Thanks so much!”   Carvalho Custom, Portugal

“This race was pretty much the best thing ever! Not just the great cycling challenge and experience, but also the sheer buzz of road-tripping it around the entire island and having the craic with a great support crew along the way. When my collection of lifetime best memories reaches its final state hopefully 60+ years from now, the Race Around Ireland will be up there fighting for the honours, of that I have no doubt!” Member of Microsoft Base2Base Team, Ireland

“I think it is a fantastic event, the emotions one goes through during this race run the full range of the spectrum. Most other events seem a lot easier afterwards. It is tough and should stay as such.” Aidan Doyle, Boards Team

“Congratulations to race staff and everyone involved in putting on the quality race you all pulled off a great one” Stephen Bugbee, Solo Rider, USA


Quotes from the 2010 Event

 
"I would like to say thank you to the organisation of the Race. Due to the perfect and professional preparation and execution of the Race there were never open questions. As I participated in other ultra races already I know how much effort you must have put in your organisation. This is only possible if there are many people in the background that support the event. I will highly recommend your race to other racers and will see you again in the future. Bernd Paul Solo winner 2010. Germany.
“The RAI strips away any preconceived notions of oneself in terms of thoughts, ego, courage and desire.  It is nothing short of a penetrating voyage of discovery in examining what lies at the core of us as beings.   All in all, it was quite possibly the best five days of my life.  I struggle to see how it could have been better organised – all in all an amazing event” Seán Ó hIarnáin – Solo Competitor, 2009, 2010 & 2011
 
 
"A truly wonderful experience and a brilliantly run event.....the sportsmanship on the road was amazing and the respect shown was fantastic too. I am saying this now and hope I still think it in a few weeks or months time but I really hope to be involved again next year in some shape or form...until then thanks again to all from me and Renegade cycling!" Pete Vance, Team Renegade
  
"Thanks for an excellent adventure, I was Crewing for Leslie Holton and loved the race, the country and especially the people. Not only is this the hardest race in Europe but also the friendliest." Jason Cordingley
  
"Brilliant event, RAI team are very committed. Thanks to Alan, Lorraine, Emmet & all the RAI team for the huge amount of work in making the Race Around Ireland such a fantastic (tough !) event & success. It was a brilliant to take part in the event."  Allister Gerard, Cadburys Team
 
  "Many thanks to Alan, Lorraine and Emmet for all the help they gave me and the media crew that followed Team Youghal on their journey. A truly awesome event that was very well organised and planned. Looking forward to next year already."  John Hennessy, Photographer
 
  
"I would say many thanks to all of the organizers. You really did a perfect job. The race is just brilliant.  The course, great, very well done Emmet! The route book was the best, I’ve ever seen.  Just perfect!  Good navigation is so important on these types of events and you were a huge help.  I will be back." Thomas Ratschob, Solo participant, Switzerland
   
Team Maccsimum Poynts would like to say thank you to everyone in Ireland - we had a great time and would recommend it to anyone looking for challenge and adventure! There are so many aspects that make this race unique from tough navigation to learning to sleep sitting up. Alex Strickland UK
 
Well it is hard to believe that two weeks have passed since we finished the race...  I must admit returning to normal life hasn't been easy, each of us - crew and racers alike have found there is now something missing, RAI is missing.  I'm sure my colleagues and friends are sick of hearing about RAI but I cannot stop talking about it...!I would like to thank you, Alan and Emmet (and all other helpers) ever so much for hosting a fantastic event, RAI has left a mark on all of us.  I can't thank you all enough. We have started talking about what to do next - I think we may have to come back next year.  Rick Anderson Team RPMs UK and Ireland
 
 

Congratulations Race Around Ireland. This is the first time I have followed anything like this online. Although following Team RPMs specifically, during the 4 days I got to know so much more about all those involved in the event making it a very enjoyable experience. Job well done! Ian Turner, following Team RPM’s from UK. Joined Facebook to follow the race.

  
 
 
Quotes from 2009 Event
“The whole trip was a real buzz for the riders despite being tired yet still able to get on the bikes and cycle”. 
Noel Tonge - Team Tailteann


“Just want to say a big thank you for putting together what is a unique and challenging event.  From start to finish you had our team thinking on its feet, learning new things about ourselves.  It left our team with a deep sense of pride and satisfaction to have taken part this year.  Amazing stuff”
Neil O’Brien, Crew Chief - Team Tailteann


 “The event helped me learn a lot about myself with regard how much pain I can put myself how little food and sleep you need, I mean really need. I’ve always believed in the "If this was easy then everyone would do it" mantra and that kept me going on numerous occasions when I had to have a few stern words with myself. What was it like? I’ve been asked lots of times since it finished. The physical and mental suffering was awful but I loved it. More than anything is a great sense of achievement and pride in myself and the whole team on really thriving on the adversity of the things that didn't go well for us in the lead up and during the race. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves and getting the excuses ready we dug in and ground it out and we had a proper race.”  
Shaun Gilbride – Swords CC


“As far as I’m concerned this is the hardest cycling event in the world”
Joe Barr - Solo


 “All finished. 2nd place. Brutally tough course and race. Very well organised though. Thanks very much to crew and organisers.”
Mark Pattinson - Solo


Again thanks for the help and support and the organisation which I thought was excellent. The course was very challenging and scenic and the work ye put in was amazing considering just the route book alone which was excellent! My crew feel the same. Well done to all the others also especially those that finished.
Eoghan Clifford - Solo


“RAI is the hardest thing we have ever done – and we have done many hard things! The sleep deprivation, physical challenge of the tough road surfaces and hilly terrain, and the immense challenge of logistics mean this event is not for the weak hearted. It takes a certain kind of person to keep going when your body is telling you to stop. But the body will only stop, if the mind does. You have to be able to dig deep and find out what works best to keep your body and bike moving forward. You find out new things about yourself and your team members - that can only stand you in great stead for all other walks of life.”
Bikedock Belles


Congratulations on a fantastic event which I have no doubt will grow over the next couple of years. The organisation and commitment from your team was brilliant and great credit to all involved. We thoroughly enjoyed the event and found it very difficult but bearing in mind that we are only leisure cyclists we got a great buzz from competing with international class racing cyclists.
Ger Flanagan - Team Youghal


Thanks for the opportunity to Race in RAI.  The climbing was awesome.
Stephen Bugbee - Solo


“Thank you to all the Race Around Ireland organising crew, for the most unbelievably intense and satisfying cycling experience of my life! Unforgettable.
Ian Geraghty - The Beara 4


“It was the most intense and exhilarating three days of my life, I think.  A truly splendid event, very well organised and a superb challenge.  The amount of teamwork that is required is extraordinary, surpassed only by the amount of teamwork required to set the race up and run it smoothly and fairly.  Many congratulations to you for all that.”
Graham Little - Team No Prior Experience