Tour Of Ireland
By rory cobbe
6 September 2008
Cork City was the location for the final day of the Tour of Ireland. A tortuous circuit of the city which had to be done 4 times included Corks Fairhill. Made famous in the song The Boys Of Fairhill. It is in the heart of Corks Northside. It is also the location of the North Mon School, a working class school from whence Taoiseachs (the Irish Prime Minister) and politicians, Poets & writers and Sportsmen (particularly Hurlers) & Tradesmen have graduated over the years. so it was fitting that the Tour passed it's gates. It was away from the glamorous location of Patrick's Hill but no less painful for the riders
The riders were given plenty of encouragement and no less humourous abuse. 'You need an engine on your one boy' I heard shouted at one domestique who was trailing the main group.
England's Mark Cavendish quit the race at the bottom of the Fairhill citing his Team Columbia tactics. I'm not so sure.
The Tour Of Ireland was a huge success and looks set to return next year bigger and better, but maybe without Fairhill if the riders have their way.
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