Dunderry High Nellies

A lifetime ago there used be a bicycle race in Dunderry.I well remember the most intense of competitive of races between Frank Smith a.k.a "The Showman " and "Rodger Rabbit"and Tommy Dowd a.k.a. "The footballers father"
Frankien was not the first of his breed to be known as "The Showman "as his father,who was equally eccentric and entertaining also carried that name with aplomb and Tommy Dowd might justifiably claim to be entitled to call his son "The Footballer's Son "  as he himself was no mean footballer and some consider that had he a smidgen of the dedication of his son for training that he might be equally revered in GAA circles.
Any how the races were deadly competitive and never more than a wheel separated them.The route was around the block starting at Horan's towards Robinstown,through Retaine,down by where Vincie and Dot used live and where Con and Marie now live and by Joe Clarke's back to Dunderry.I cannot remember how many laps were involved but the competition was really intense.
I understand,as a side comment, that Frankien maintained his "Rodger Rabbit "persona deadpan while a patient in Hospital much to the amusement of patients ans staff.A shrinking violet he was not and I for one miss his hilarious antics.
Niall a.k.a "he Nailer " was his brother. Himself and Frank were as physically opposite as brothers could be.Frank was six foot plus and  Neill was nearer Five foot.
Both were truckers and the Continent was their workplace.For a big man Frank had a tenor voice and Nailer had a voice that rumbled from his toes through his booming larynx.
Nailer too had a sporting love affair with the bicycle.He raised thousands for charity through sponsored cycles over the decades.
Like Frank and their trucking mate Metal Mickey their involvement with trucks attracted adverse attention of the law at times and this caused considerable stresses at times.
The trucking Heaven they now populate and enhance is I fully expect devoid of such tensions and in between climbing the Heavenly equivalent of Mont Blanc they are cycling the roads and lanes of Jesus Street and Peter's Lane.
It is therefor totally appropriate that Nailer's wife Marie and their son Francie are up to their oxters in another cycling club the Dunderry High Nellies.,which as the  name implies is for cycling spins on the old "High Nellie "bicycle.
Next Saturday,May 2nd., at 4.00 p.m.in Dunderry they are hosting a family day out for all vintage cyclists.Refreshments are guaranteed during the trip and afterwards.There will be a raffle and a  few glasses of fresh milk afterwards.And if you implode during the spin there will be transport to bring you back to base.
No pressure then and all are sure of a "Cead Mile Failte."
Bi  ann