It was a lot of hard work, sweat and effort but last weekend’s BIKE1630, achieved what it set out to do - visit every GAA club in Ireland.

The fundraising initiative was original and challenging, to cycle to all 1630 clubs throughout Ireland, with the goal of not only raising funds for the club but bringing the GAA family together.

Lauri McCusker, one of the organisers, said that the weekend was a big success.

“It was hard work, there were some who had to cover over 100 miles a day on the bike, but we covered all the clubs right across Ireland and it was well worth it. It went really well and there has been incredible feedback, we had a get together last night (Tuesday) and there was a brilliant buzz about the place,” he said.

“The cyclists got a wonderful reception at clubs up and down the country and people just wanted to talk to them about what they were doing. That phrase ‘you can’t beat Irish hospitality’ certainly rang true,” he added.

There was months of organising that went into the event and close to 300 people were involved in making sure that things ran smoothly over the weekend whether on the phones and in an administative capacity or as back up the cyclists. Lauri also felt that it also brought the community together.

“You had people who just wanted to help out or who got involved in the cycling who maybe weren’t involved in the club or hadn’t been involved for a while. The club wants to thank everybody, not only in Arney and Bellanaleck but throughout Fermanagh and indeed up and down the country.” In terms of the money raised, McCusker says that the final total will now be known for soem time yet.

“We haven’t got all the money in yet and it will be weeks before we get the final total but it will be interesting to see what that total is at the end,” he commented.

The club also handed each club that it visited a ticket and there will be a draw in August for the wirner receiving the Golden Ticket, which will be a training weekend at the Lough Erne Resort for a club.