MAGLink, End JUNE 2004
A monthly update from the Irish Motorcyclists Action Group.
MAG Ireland : Representing Riders
The progress reported below in promoting and protecting motorcycling
has been possible because of your support.
Index:
1. Campaign Updates
2. National Motorcycle Events Calendar, *FULL LISTING FOR
JULY/AUGUST 2004*
3. MAG details and contact numbers
4. Disclaimer
To receive MAGLink every month by email (free) send a blank message
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MAG Local Groups - Eric Geaney, Chairman of of MAG Carlow wants to
hear from anyone interested in getting involved in setting up a MAG
group in neighbouring Kilkenny. Contact him at 086-3091138, also
eric.geaney@oceanfree.net. Looking for a good venue in Kilkenny to
meet and suggestions for Ride-outs. Big bikes, small bikes, everyone
welcome. Cheers, Eric
1. CAMPAIGNS
The following is a brief summary of some of the work undertaken
within the Campaigns portfolio during June 2004. Regular reports on
the topics mentioned are also available on the MAG website
www.magireland.org. Any comments or questions to
campaigns@magireland.ie or telephone 01 453 07 97 (MAG Office).
BIKERS ARE VOTERS
Emails to candidates
All European candidates were emailed with information on MAG's
policies with a request to contact us with their views on the
various issues. Positive responses were received from Avril Doyle,
Tom Prendeville and Dana Rosemary Scallon. Avril Doyle
was successfully re-elected and we will be following up this
correspondence. It is interesting to note that Tom Prendeville gave
us "100% support" and rides a bike himself.
BUS LANES
After several months delay Northern Ireland's motorcyclists have
finally been granted access to many of the country's bus lanes
on an experimental basis. The 18 month experimental period started on
Tuesday 1st June 04 and will be reviewed every six months.
Should the behaviour of motorcyclists conflict with other bus lane
users, access will be cancelled, at 6, 12 or 18 months - the
three periods of review. Likewise it can be made permanent at any of
these intervals. (The program will last no longer than 18
months – at the end it will be either made a permanent feature or
abolished).
MAG NI has emphasised that motorcyclists treat other bus lane users
–
cyclists etc, with complete respect if they want this to be permanent
in Northern Ireland. They envisage the Northern Ireland scheme as a
lever for bikers in other areas to use to lobby for access to bus
lanes.
The following bus lanes are included in the scheme. ALL lanes in the
experiment will be signposted (white on blue) and may also have an AA
Information sign displayed. No sign, means No access, means a £30
fine and a bad mark against us if you do.
Waveney RoadBallymena, Albertbridge RoadBelfast (3 Lanes), Anderstown
Road Belfast (3 Lanes), Botanic AvenueBelfast Castlereagh
RoadBelfast, Crumlin RoadBelfast (3 Lanes), Donegal RoadBelfast (2
Lanes), Falls RoadBelfast (3 Lanes), Great Victoria StreetBelfast (2
Lanes), Holywood RoadBelfast, Malone RoadBelfast (2 lanes), Nelson
StreetBelfast, Ormeau RoadBelfast, Queens QuayBelfast, Saintfield
RoadBelfast (2 Lanes), Shaftesbury SquareBelfast, Stranmillis
RoadBelfast , Upper Lisburn Road Belfast, Upper Malone Road Belfast
(2 Lanes), Upper Newtonards Road Belfast, Whitewell Road Belfast
Woodstock Road Belfast, Woodstock Link Belfast, Ballynahinch
RoadCarryduff, Ballygowan Road Castlereagh, Kingsway Dunmurry (4
Lanes), QueenswayDunmurry (2 Lanes), Ballyhenry RoadNewtonabbey,
Shore Road Newtonabbey, Station RoadNewtonabbey.
RIDER LICENSING, TESTING & TRAINING
Proinsias de Rossa has been re-elected to the European Parliament and
so he will be raising our proposed amendments to the Third Driver
Licensing Directive at the next RETT meeting scheduled for 25th
October.
Linda O'Loideoin recently attended another meeting of the Working
Group on CBT. Progress on the implementation of the proposal
continues to be slow.
ROAD HAZARDS/ROAD SAFETY
Wire Rope Safety Fencing
Replies have been received from the NRA and Department of Transport
to our correspondence on this issue. The response from the NRA is a
lengthy one and will be responded to after further research and
discussion at Board level.
NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY CONFERENCE
Eoin Kirwan attended the recent Conference on Safety hosted by the
National Safety Council on 24th June. I reproduce hereunder his
informal report – a more comprehensive report will issue in next
MAGlink.
IRTA had four delegates! Between the lot of us we got a good spake
in. Tricia and Stephen from IRTA were critical of the delays over
Rules of the Road, instructor standards, etc. Finbarr Crowley of the
NRA was a speaker, he mentioned "forgiving roadsides" - in the Q&A
session at the end of the morning. I asked how did that square with
wire rope barriers, got a totally glib answer (from one of his
minions) about how the tendering process etc. Compels them to accept
lowest tender, he actually said "our hands are tied" and strongly
implied that the EU regulations compel them to accept the lowest
common denominator - other EU countries are already removing wire
rope and I pointed this out. He also brought up the infamous letter
where MAG UK's Neil Liversidge endorsed wire rope type barriers.
I
also had a go at the Department of Transport representative about
the provisional licence system, lack of CBT for all, and bus lanes.
CBT depends on the car instructor register which still seems
to be getting nowhere after 2+ years of talking about it, and he
could offer no reassurance there. Bus lanes he said would be
reviewed once the current expansion of QBCs is completed, also the
old chestnut about pressure on bus lanes from other groups. I
questioned the rationale for both of those and pointed out that they
are now in NI as well as GB, didn't get any decent reason why it
couldn't be done here. In fact in the Q&A session at the end, almost
all of the questions were directed at the DoT guy (John Murphy,
Assistant Sec. for the Roads Section), who was chairing the
conference rather than at the presenters. I don't think he was
expecting that. Lots of people were annoyed about lack of funding
for safety, lack of funding for road safety officers etc., which he
blamed on the county councils. The very fact that county councils
are responsible for this (while central government grabs almost all
motoring taxation for itself) shows that the government - or at least
the Department of Finance - considers it completely unimportant.
There was also a somewhat worrying presentation from a Garda
inspector in which he described real-time satellite tracking of ALL
vehicles, remote control of speed etc.
AND FINALLY.....
Jacket saves cliff faller - The family of a man who fell 200ft down a
cliff face in Cornwall believe it was his bike jacket which saved his
life. Jamie Hamilton, 21, St Agnes, Cornwall was wearing a Weise
leather jacket when he fell down cliffs at Trevellas Porth, suffering
serious head and spinal injuries. He's now recovering well and his
mother Gill Hamilton believes her son owes his life to the jacket. "I
do believe in miracles. I think he was saved by his jacket," said Mrs
Hamilton. "The body armour saved his life." It's believed Jamie had
ridden his motorcycle up to the cliff to watch the sunset before his
fall. Members of the St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club were the first to
arrive at the scene. Club Chairman Mat Smith said "He is a very lucky
man. The first 100ft or so is a steep scree slope so he must have
slid down there and dropped down the last bit. He's the first one I
have seen who has gone of the top and lived." www.motorcyclenews.com
contacted Fowlers, the distributor of the Weise brand in the
UK, and the firm agreed to offer Jamie a replacement jacket.....
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2. NATIONAL MOTORCYCLING EVENTS CALENDAR, 2004
MAG Ireland encourages event organisers to support motorcycling by
offering a discount of one euro to holders of current
MAG membership cards at their events in 2004.
JULY 2004
July 10th - 11th
Rogues MCC. Phone: Chris Monahan 086 6041949, Event Location:
Traynors, Lisnagear, Cootehill, Co. Cavan, Event Date:
10th & 11th of July 2004, Event Description: Run on Saturday the 10th
starting from Tullyvin Tavern, Followed by Rally. Rock
Bands, camping, Bon-Fire.
July 10th/11th
Klousters M.C.C Rally - Club: Klousters mcc., Contact Phone:
0749522382, Event Location: gortahork, Other Information:
4th roar to the shore. teac ruairi gotahork, Co Donegal. Event Date:
10/july/04, Event Description: Back to roots
July 11th
Walderstown Road Races
July 11th
Bubble Gum Run on Sunday the 11th of July 2004, the 4th annual bubble
gum run will raise money to bring children with life
threatening illness closer to the roadtrip of their dreams Departing
from Fado Restaurant, The Mansion house Dublin @ 11.30
SHARP!!! (Free Breakfast For the first 500 at 10.30 am) Arrive at
Mondello where a complimentary BBQ and Motorcycle
Roadshow will be held for all the family. Suggested Minimum
sponsorship € 50 per person. Register online at
www.bubblegum.com or register freephone : 1850 923343
July 17th/18th
Celtic M.C.C. Rally - The Hive, Ballydine, Co. Tipperary
Slippy Clutch M.C.C. Rally - Cush Inn, Kildangan, Co. KIldare
July 18th -
Mondello Park - Irish Superbikes
July 23rd - 25th
Druids M.C.C. Event Location: 13th Rally, O'Brien's, Nurney, Co.
Kildare. Contact Willie 045-864566 or Ger 045- 432710
Name: ger fox Club: DRUIDS M.C.C.Locality: newbridge Contact Phone:
045 432710 Event Location: DRUIDS M.C.C.
13th RALLY O'BRIEN,S NURNEY Co KILDAREEvent Date: 23-24-25/JULY 2004
July 25th -
Kells Road Races
July 31st - 1st August
Club: Unlimited, Locality: Castlebar, Contact Spud Phone: 087-
2326390, Event Location: To Be Confirmed Event Description:
Unlimited 9th FRENZY
Club: Viking M.C. 19th Irish Custom & Classic, Foley's Bar,
Garryhill, Co. Carlow.
Club: Black Knight M.C.C. Rally - Caman Inn, Clonoulty, Co. Tipperary
Club: Celtic M.C.C.New York - 12th "Kick Ass" Rally - Contact Ger
Curtain 718-324-5102 or www.celticmcc.com
AUGUST 2004
August 7/8th
Moy Riders M.C.C. Rally
August 14/15th
Illeagles M.C.C. - Milltown, Donegal.
Black Widows - 32 County/24 hour Charity run followed by Charity
Bash in the GAA Club, Athlone. See:
http://www.blackwidowsireland.com/ for more details
Olde Thumpers M.C.C. Rally - Rugby Club - Kilkenny
August 13-15th
Germany - The Kuhle Wampe Summer Event featuring live music (two
bands on saturday night), DJ til late in the morning,
campfire, activities for the kids, pool (natural bathing pool),
information stands, games, ride out (on saturday), food & drinks,
campsite, showers. IMPORTANT!, Please bring your own plate, cup,
cutlery.Entrance: 10.00EURO, Free entrance under the
FEMAX scheme (FEMA Member Federations). More information to come
under http://www.sommertreffen.kuhle-wampe.de)
, Hotline from 21 June 2004 on and during the event: +49-(0)160-
4272944 The Federation of the Motorcycle Cubs of Kuhle
Wampe. Where: Dassel-Lauenberg approx. 9°44' East/ 51°45' N In
between Hannover (80km N) and Göttingen (45km S-E)
on the west of the motorway A7.
August 21/22nd
North West Riders M.C.C. Rally
Wild Geese M.C.C. Rally
Exiles M.C.C. Rock Night
August 28/29th
Free Spirit M.C.C. - Mill House, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Coyotes M.C.C. Rally - Antrim
Ramrods M.C.C. Rally
SEPTEMBER 2004
September 4th
Name: Laurence Club: Regulators M.C.CLocality: Donegal TownContact
Phone: 0879612702Event Location: The Ringfort Inn, Bruckless, co.
Donegal. (ON THE DONEGAL TOWN TO KILLYBEGS ROAD)Other Information:
sECURE CAMPING FACILITIES AND FOOD ETC..Event Date: 4th September
2004Event Description: cHANGE OF VENUE. CLOSER TO CIVILISATION. LIVE
BANDS ROCK DJ USUAL TROPHIES AND GAMES. MAD NITES CRAIC!!
September 24-26th
3rd Snakebite Rally, "Drumnagreah Hotel", A2 Coast Road, Co. Antrim,
N. Ireland Fri 24th @ 6pm - Sunday 26th @ 12 noon September 2004
Stalls, Big Prizes, Live Bands, Adult Games and Entertainment, Free
Pre-Booked Harley Rides Available Courtesy of Provincewide
Motorcycles Ballymena, To Pre-book contact ricky@provincewide.com
Custom Classic Show, Secure Camping and Parking Etc. Pre Booked
Tickets £8 contact Susie 07904273578, Includes Free Rally Badge,
Or
£10 on gate Rally Site 7 Miles From Larne Harbour Or 31 Miles From
Belfast HarbourMore info on www.quayvipersmcc.com
Email: quayvipersmcc@yahoo.co.uk, Ring: Tucker on 07703460799 Ring:
Jenny on 07790152306, Stonking Good Party
Weekend Free Rally Badge If Pre-Booked.
FOR FREE LISTING OF YOUR EVENT SEND IN DETAILS ASAP.
The above information is correct to our knowledge and belief as we
got to press but MAG Ireland cannot guarantee its accuracy. Thanks
also to Aggie for information from the Bikers Bible. Details of any
additional /revised events should be advised to the MAG office
office@magireland.org or directly to maglink@magireland.org
MAG UK events can be seen online at the MAG UK website www.mag-uk.org
BMF events www.bmf.co.uk
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3. MAG Calendar 2004
Board meetings
1st Wednesday every month, 7:30pm MAG Office, Dublin.
MAG Local Group meetings:-
MAG Carlow: 3rd Tuesday of the month, Sheriff O'Hara's, Brown St.
Carlow.
MAG Donegal: 1st Tuesday of each month at 8pm, Road House Bar,
Ballybofey
MAG Dublin: 1st Tuesday of each month 8.30pm Strawberry Hall, Lucan,
(contact Jimmy Kenny, 01 4502330)
MAG Limerick: Meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in Gus
O'Driscolls Pub, Corbally. http://maglimerick.pitas.com/
MAG Tipperary North/South Offaly. Every last Thursday of the month
at 'The Mill House', Birr Road, Roscrea. Contact Keith
Leaver at kleaver@gofree.indigo.ie for further details.
MAG Cork: Tuesday nights in an Cruiscin Lan, on Douglas Street at
8.30pm. We are usually in the snug!
MAG Wexford - last Tuesday of every month at Ballycarney Inn,
Ballycarney, Co, Wexford, Co. Wexford from 8.30pm. A
second meeting also takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at
a venue announced at the previous Ballycarney meeting.
E&OE. Changes should be advised to the MAG office
office@magireland.org
or Gearoid O'Byrne maglink@magireland.org
Publication Deadlines - RoadRunner: February 15th, May 15th. August
15th, November 15th,
Letters and articles welcome, articles with pictures very welcome.
Send submissions roadrunner@magireland.org or to RoadRunner c/o MAG
Office.
MAG Member Benefits
* A nationwide organisation representing your interests as a rider
* RoadRunner Magazine
* BikeShop Discounts, Full list in RoadRunner or on website
www.magireland.org
* Motorcycle Insurance
* Local Groups - Social Activity and Local Representation
* Information Service, (Info sheets, MAGLink and advice)
* MAG Products
* Training discounts
* Discounts on the entry fee to participating motorcyclist events
* Route Planning Service
* Discounts on VHI Health Insurance, Ferries, Accident Insurance and
Breakdown Cover.* MAG Credit Card. Competitive
credit facility which also makes a small donation to MAG with each
transaction.
The discounts alone will save you much more than the membership fee
every year.
Membership costs € 30 per annum, with reductions for young
riders,
partners and for payment by standing order. To join now
ring the MAG Office on (01) 4530797. Credit cards accepted.
* Events Advertising
As an additional benefit to affiliated clubs only, MAG are offering
substantial discounts to advertise their rally in Roadrunner.
Roadrunner is Ireland's largest circulation motorcycle magazine and
goes out to over 4000 Irish motorcyclists every quarter.
See below for details
Club affiliation costs €30 per annum.
Information Sheets & Reps Resource Kit MAG currently has information
sheets on:
Accidents a Legal Perspective, Anti Theft, Member Benefits, Bike
Promotion, Bike Rental, Discount Shops, Drink Driving,
Driving Test, Events Insurance, FEMA, Group Riding, Importing a Bike,
Irish Touring, Licence Regulations, Long Distance
Riding, MAG History, New Member, Ride Safely, Local Groups, European
Lobbying. Training, Motorcycle Awareness, Type
Approval, MAG Structure, What is MAG, Perception of Motorcycles as
Unsafe, Consumer Rights for Motorcyclists
MAG's Information Sheets can be found at the MAG website.
MAG also issues a computer CD which contains the reps handbooks, info
sheets, local group report template and useful forms
such as road hazard reporting and membership. There's also a very
wide selection of research and motorcycle promotion
material useful when lobbying and for background information. Copy
one from your local group or contact the MAG Office.
MAG Products
Premium T- shirts = € 12.70 each (Black with MAG logo)
Nectectors = € 12.70 each (Red or Black tubular
neckwarmers)
Baseball Caps = € 12.70 each (Black cloth, with MAG
logo)MAG
EIRE, RIDE FREE Patches = € 3.80 each
Flourescent "Do Not Remove This Helmet" sticker = €1.00
RIDE FREE Adhesive stickers = € 1.80 each
1999,2000, 2001,2002,2003 Members' Metal Badges = € 2.56 each
2004 MAG Enamel badge = € 3.80 each
MAG embossed Leather Keyfob = € 2.56 each
MAG Fleecies - €35 - heavy gauge, navy, with "MAG Ireland"
embroidered on front.
BOOKS
Motorcycle Roadcraft = € 17.00 each
All items are including postage by ordinary post. These exclusive
products are available from your local Group, direct from the
MAG Office, or from our MAG Products Outlet Shop, Kilkenny Camping &
Water-sports Centre, U24 The Arcade, High
Street, Kilkenny. Save postage by shopping locally.
Profits from the sale of MAG Products goes directly to campaigning
for Riders Rights.
MAG Advertising
Roadrunner is Ireland's largest circulation motorcycle magazine and
is mailed directly to over 4000 Irish motorcyclists every
quarter. If you want the Irish motorcycling world to know about
something (your shop, your sale, your club, your product, your
event.....) then advertising in RoadRunner is the way to tell them.
Contact the MAG Office for details of our advertising rates.
MAG Contacts
MAG Board (Composed of elected and co-opted officers and responsible
for the day to day running of MAG)
Eoin Kirwan: Chairman, IT & Transport: 087 6166207 Mailto:
chair@magireland.org
Linda O'Loideoin: Treasurer, Roadrunner Editor
mailto:roadrunner@magireland.org
Jimmy Kenny: Product and Process Officer 01 4502330
Gearóid O Byrne: Local Groups Liaison & MAGlink
mailto:maglink@magireland.org
David French: European Liaison, Safety Officer
mailto:davidfrench@magireland.org
National Council and Local MAG Group Contact Details
The National Council (NC) is composed of elected county
representatives and responsible for the overall running of MAG.
Unless a county position of "NC representative" is elected, the
county chairperson is on the NC.
MAG County Groups
MAG Carlow:
Chair: Eric Geaney (086-3091138) eric.geaney@oceanfree.net
MAG Donegal
Chair: Marty Boyle 087 - 6557414 martyboyle@unison.ie
or magdonegal@yahoo.com
Or Michael McNulty mnulty@mcmenaminsteel.com
MAG Dublin
Chair: Jimmy Kenny 01 - 4502330 (South Dublin contact Mark Newman 086
8472746)
MAG Limerick
Secretary - Alec Quinn. ajquinn@eircom.net
Treasurer - Mark Hackett. haket@hotmail.com
NC Rep - Vinny White. vwhite@eircom.net
PRO - Sharon Curtin. yamxv250@hotmail.com
Clubs liason officer - Karl Murphy. crashtestdummy@oceanfree.net
Local Authority liason officer - John Mullin.
MAG North Tipperary and South Offaly
Paul O'Dwyer 086-2686091 froggieod@yahoo.com
Keith Lever kleaver@gofree.indigo.ie
MAG Cork
Chair - Ger Donnolly
Treasurer - Martin O'Driscoll martdris@gofree.indigo.ie
MAG Wexford
Chair - Martin Sills 087 - 6628595
Treasurer - Mick Rice sago@oceanfree.net
Unelected local representatives invited to National Council meetings
by MAG Board - Leitrim - Christine Cann
christinecann@eircom.net
The remaining counties are currently not represented on the National
Council. If you are interested in assisting, either as
volunteering as a local representative or in relation to founding a
MAG Group in your area, please contact the MAG Office or
the Local Group Liaison Gearóid O'Byrne at maglink@magireland.org
MAG Office
1b Ring Terrace, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Tel: 01 453 0797
Fax: 01 453 3643
Karen Kiely: National Campaigns Officer - 086 8632444
roadrunner@magireland.org
Liz Keane Office Assistant office@magireland.org
Before ringing the MAG office please consider if it wouldn't be
better ringing your MAG representative, the DOE Driver Testing
Section, your local motorcycle dealer or the Yellow Pages first. The
MAG Office will help with your queries where possible but
doing so reduces the time available to administer MAG for everyone's
benefit.
Website: www.magireland.org
Webmaster: Joe Lennon webmaster@magireland.org
4. Disclaimer
MAGLink is provided free of charge as a service to motorcycling in
Ireland.
MAG Ireland cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any
errors or omissions
MAGLink end June 2004, compiled by Gearóid O Byrne
maglink@magireland.org
(c) Copyright : MAG Ireland