Young Irish riders set to take on strong international contingent in Rás Tailteann

Portlaoise hosts the start on Wednesday morning of what should be a ferocious battle between a dozen overseas teams plus a large number of Irish riders in the Rás Tailteann. The 2026 staging begins with a 161.6km race to Kilmallock in Co Limerick.

Young Irish riders set to take on strong international contingent in Rás Tailteann. Portlaoise hosts the start on Wednesday morning of what should be a ferocious battle between a dozen overseas teams plus a large number of Irish riders in the Rás Tailteann. The 2026 staging begins with a 161.6km race to Kilmallock in Co Limerick. Among those lining out is Irishman Daire Feeley (Burren CC), winner in 2022, as well as 2024 champion Dom Jackson of Foran CT (UK). The Irish team will feature Conor Murphy, who powered to a superb silver medal in last year’s European Junior Championship time trial. Murphy is 19 but, remarkably, is not the youngest on the team. Selectors have taken the unusual step of including two second-year junior riders: Hugh Óg Mulhearne and Fionn Killeen. The talented duo are both just 17, with Jack Conroy (21) and Liam Cro...