Éalú Lua Adventure Race Launched

The Éalú Lua Adventure Race returns to Ballingeary  on Saturday September 30th.

The event, which is organised by the communities of Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh, will see up to 150 participants run, cycle and kayak 26.5km around the picturesque villages, hills and valleys as well as the famous Locha Lua.

Speaking at the launch of the event, John Horgan, Event Committee, said “The committee is excited to bring back the Éalú Lua Adventure Race this year. The whole community is looking forward to welcoming everyone to the area for what is sure to be a fun-filled experience for all who take part”.

He added “The route showcases some of the unique characteristics the area has to offer, and we look forward to welcoming the wider public to our communities for Éalú Lua 2023″.

Participants will start off in waves of 30 running 5km from Gougane Barra Cross to Ballingeary, crossing the historical ‘Ceimeanna’ (Stepping Stones) along the way, before making their way back up to Ballingeary along a mixed gravel trail to the bike transition area.

The first cycle route of 16km will take riders from Ballingeary to Inchigeelagh village before heading out along the winding ‘South Lake Road’ with spectacular views of the lake along the way. A 1.5km kayak section awaits participants on the serene freshwaters of the lake, ably supported by a crew of local volunteers.

Participants will mount their bikes for a 5km cycle back to Ballingeary village, before completing a final 700m run through the GAA grounds, where they will be greeted by a festival atmosphere and proud sense of achievement. All participants will be welcomed to the GAA Áras for refreshments.

The event is also supported by Cork Sports Partnership, the development organisation for community sport and physical activity in Cork. Maurice O’Sullivan, Sport and Marketing Manager for Cork Sports Partnership said “We are delighted to support the return of Éalú Lua Adventure Race this year and encourage people of all abilities to come out and support. Providing opportunities for all ages and abilities is central to work of Cork Sports Partnership and community-based events such as these highlight what can be achieved when key people in the community come together to develop projects”. 

He added  “A lot of work has been done by a very dedicated group of volunteers to ensure this year’s event takes place and they deserve a huge amount of credit for all they have undertaken to put this event back on the calendar”. 

Places on the event are limited to 150 for 2023. To register or for more information on the event, see information below. 

Event Details:

Leg 1: Run 5km from Gougane Barra Cross to Ballingeary. This is mainly on a winding regional road open to live traffic. At the end of the route, participants will be running close to cyclists in the opposite direction. Participants will then cross the river lee on the historical Ceimeanna (Stepping Stones) which are narrow and may be slippery. A narrow gravel path leads to the transition area.

Leg 2: Cycle 16km to Kayak transition. The first half is on a winding regional road which is open to traffic including HGV’s and Agricultural traffic. Participants will turn right in Inchigeelagh Village (twice) at marshalled junctions before completing the second half on the narrow ‘South Lake Road’. Beware of overgrown verges, rough surfaces, hidden junctions, country traffic and sudden short ascents and descents. Please take particular care while cycling through the villages.

Leg 3: Kayak 1.5km on a single ‘sit on top’ Kayak. The kayak, buoyancy aid etc. is provided. Participants must use the buoyancy aid provided. (If you have never kayaked before, we recommend you try it out in advaance. Send us a message if you need help getting access to a kayak.)  

Leg 4: Cycle 5km on the South Lake Road to Ballingeary. As participants approach Ballingeary village, runners may be crossing the road. You may be stopped very briefly the marshalled junction.   

Leg 5: This 700m run starts on the main street of the village. It then turns off the road down to the football pitches. The main pitch will have a designated route for running. Please follow it. 

Race Timing Your overall time will be measured from Start to finish. There is no ‘time out’. 

Event Waves:

Race will be started in 4 waves.

• Wave 1 starts at 10:00 am
• Wave 2 starts at 10:15 am
• Wave 3 starts at 10:30 am
• Wave 4 starts at 10:45 am

Please note this is a community event, organised and operated by a group of volunteers. 

This is an over 18’s event.