The National Demonstration on Saturday 19 August was a huge success. We’ve had newspaper coverage in regional newspapers, one item in the Evening Herald, a short interview with our chairman on Morning Ireland, and many interviews on local radio stations and with regional newspapers. There was no national coverage reported, other than Morning Ireland.

Some commented that Saturday was a daft day to run the demo; others that the politicians were on vacation. Also that the Ulster Grand Prix and, maybe other local events, were on. No day is the right day for everyone. The demo was a gentle lifting of our activity in the three main areas: Direct Access, Safer Roads, and Recognising Motorcycles as an Integral Component of Transportation.

We purposely choose the County Managers as ‘targets’, because they are charged with implementation of the Driver Licensing Laws, the Maintenance of our roads and they have a role in Transportation policy. Our intention was to raise awareness. So what if it was their day off? It was made clear in their invitations that this was a national demonstration/protest of high importance. It was expected that they would make 30 minutes available, or send a deputy, to accept the letter. If you were the manager of a private company and you had thousands of dis-satisfied customers, would you make time to meet their representatives – even if it was your day off? Sure you would.

Some of those that did bother to respond to the invitation were very nice about pointing out that their offices are closed on a Saturday, and they’d be happy to receive the protest letter by post. They missed the whole point. One even had the audacity to ask MAG to list all the defective roads in their jurisdiction! This is the second time to hear such a response – as if they don’t already know what a bad shape the roads are in. We will publish, on our web-site, the responses we received from the County Managers. The address is www.iol.ie/~maglink. It is not our intention to make enemies of the county managers or any other official of government or otherwise. It is to raise awareness of the plight of motorcyclists. We are a nice bunch of people, and we do have positive contributions to make. We want to work with the authorities – give them understanding. But we will not be soft on putting forth our issues.

We are grateful to those counties that did send a representative and who accepted our protest letter in a spirit of understanding. We hope that they will continue dialog with local motorcyclists and endeavour to fix their complaints.

We fully expect to have a serious meeting with the Department of the Environment & Local Government on the issues. Those who have access to MAG’s web site will know that Minister Dempsey has turned down – for the third time – a meeting with our Chairman. The NEC will also consider the next steps in escalating our action should sense and understanding not prevail.

At a local level, the demo was a great exercise in discovering what the local groups could or could not do and it got some of our members active. They also obtained valuable experience in relating to local issues and handling the media. There follows a brief report on some of the demo locations, incorporating some local group stuff. Some of the reportage is sketchy, due to insufficient time to make the RoadRunner publication deadline.

SLIGO

MAG Sligo Demo took place on Saturday 19th at 11.00. We had a disappointing turnout. About 10 bikers. There was a lot of things on and a lot could not attend. We travelled to the county council offices where we were met by County Council representative, Mr Kevin Colreavy. I spoke to him in detail about our plight. He accepted our points and I handed him the protest letters on behalf of counties Sligo, Roscommon & Leitrim. Our thanks to the local Garda who were also in attendance. I spoke on the Tommy Marren morning show on North-West radio. I made MAG'S DEMO points but the interview did push on to other more negative issues. (A useful exercise for future interviews).

Photo's were taken by us and some advance coverage was given in the local paper (Sligo Champion). No coverage on the day. I will forward the photos and all press coverage I get as soon as I can. Many thanks to you both for your help and guidance - particularly Herb for his interview tips!

MAG Sligo held it's first meeting in Foley's Pub in Sligo on August 4th with a good attendance. The main topic was the Demo ride and forthcoming rallies. The Demo then took place on the 19th with some dedicated bikers. Many thanks to all that attended. We hold our gatherings on the first Friday of every month in Foley's pub, Sligo at 8.30. All Welcome. Eoin Lappin.

DUBLIN

Well the main work that we did was for the Demo. It went swimmingly well to quote the Garda in charge of the route "You are all a credit to the motorcycling community" we had approximately 300 bikes. Maeve and Marc counted them twice just to be on the safe side. Liam Dolan, who represented the Ministers office, was there to receive our paperwork. RTE shot video of the event and two freelance photographers turned up. That done we all went off to Athlone for a hooly!! Jimmy Kenny.

A word of thanks to the following for doing marshalling duties:

Marc O’Loideoin for co-ordinating the marshalls.
Goldwing owners: John Keating ( thanks for the run to Athlone as well) Richard Keegan, Aoife Keegan, Robbie Nolan and Bernard Edwards.
Clondalkin MCC: Andy Mulhall and Martin Conbery.
Hog: Pat Kenny.
Roadrunner 1000 M.C.C. Brendan O’Cinneide.
M.A.G Dublin: Keith Clarke, Jason Reilly, Linda O’Loideoin, Rory Haddon, Sean Conway, Jim Hughes, Dominic Rafferty, Gerry O’Byrne, Fergus Finn, Martin Crowe, Linda Ellis.
John ( sorry can’t make out your surname), A O’Brien, Brendan Farrell and if I missed anyone my apologies but just in case thanks very much to one and all for making the demo so successful.

MAG Dublin meetings are now held on the 1st (Strawberry Hall) and 3rd (Four Provinces) Tuesday of each month. Four Provinces, Ranelagh June 20th 2000, 8.30pm. Strawberry Hall, next meeting July 4th 2000, 8.30pm.

LONGFORD/WESTMEATH

Longdord/Westmeath had about thirty bikes.

BELFAST

We had approx. sixty bikes riding from Belfast City Hall to Stormont with the run featured on the BBC news at tea time, and a reporter from the Irish News. The previous Friday 11th August, the BBC carried a news feature with MAG handing over our action demands to the Minister of the Department of Regional Development Gregory Campbell. There were also newspaper features running up to the 19th August in the Irish News and Belfast Telegraph with the Irish News running a feature on Monday 21st August.

LOUTH/MONAGHAN

Louth had 10 bikes. They met in Castlebellingham and rode to Ardee and then on to Dundalk. The county offices there don’t even have a letter box! So, the group had to go to the town hall. No county representative attended.

KILKENNY

Bill Doran in Kilkenny had himself and a club mate. He also had a post-event slot on local radio.

CORK

We had a blast in Cork , about 80 bikes. Our venue at the Angler’s Rest Pub was a little isolated which probably hampered the turnout, but it is our traditional start point for anything. We did a fun blast up and down Patrick Street in Cork, bouncing the bikes off the limiters and beeping horns. The police were fantastic (I cant believe I just said that ), stopping traffic wherever we went. We had a few casualties all right, bikes overheating, and congratulations go to "The Plonker", who highsided his bike, while stopped, he saw the funny side of it anyway.

Cllr. Dan Wallace met us outside City Hall and accepted out letter, promising to help our cause. He used to ride a nifty fifty himself for a long time. Photos were taken by the examiner and someone said Nationwide were there too. (I don’t know if this is true or not).

Hopefully we will get our DA and take our place amongst 4 wheelers as valuable members of the motoring community. (Owen Kelly). Thanks to Finbarr O’Connor and the MAG Cork team for all their preparatory work. MAG meetings are held in the Cruiscin Lán, Douglas Street every Tuesday night at 8.30pm. Mick Lyons.

LIMERICK

The MAG Demo in Limerick was a great success. Over 100 bikes left the South Court Hotel at around 11.15am on Saturday morning. We had a Garda outrider leading the cavalcade, and cars were stopped at all junctions that gave us an almost free ride. We went up O'Connell St. two abreast and it was a fantastic sight, all bikes with lights
on. People on the street were standing there and smiling in appreciation (or in envy). We came to a stop in Mallow St. where we were to hand in our letter of protest, but as we were a bit early, the Garda outrider suggested we do another lap of O'Connell St. This suggestion met with no opposition. Gentlemen, start your engines!
We again rallied in Mallow St. where Minister Willie O’Dea who accepted our letter of protest met us. Local press and photographers were there to record the event. A great success considering there was only three days notice prior to the event. A big up to all who attended.

MAG Limerick is the latest local group to set up, following fast on the heels of MAG Sligo and MAG Mayo. John Suckling is the chairman, Andy Jordan is P.R.O, Karl Murphy is TD Liaison Officer, and Vincent White is secretary on 087 2906 519. Contact Vincent for details of their regular meetings.

CARLOW

25 bikes left the Tavern Bar, Carlow to ride to the Council Offices on the National Demo. After departing in good time the demo was delayed with mechanical problems. The council representative rang the MAG Office to say he couldn’t wait and to assure MAG that Carlow was motorcycle friendly.

On other news, there was a very good attendance at the Remembrance Rally on 12th/13th August. All profits on the event (£650.00) were donated to MAG. Longest distance male: Aengus Watts. Longest distance Female: Anne Keogh

Largest Club attendence: Joint winners Rooters/Slippy Clutch. 2nd Druids. Thanks to the band Phallacy for a brilliant night and thanks to all that attended. Congratulations to Gerry Daly on winning the draw for a life time subscription to M.A.G Ireland worth £200.00. Editors Note: MAG Ireland thanks the organisers of The Remembrance Rally and MAG Carlow for the very generous donation to MAG Ireland. Special thanks go to Mick Comerford and Co. for all their hard work.

DONEGAL

30 bikers met at the Shell Garage, Derry Road, Letterkenny for the MAG Donegal Demonstration to the Council Offices. Regrettably, the council did not have the courtesy to send a representative to meet the riders.