As the crowds roared on and the Ras Tailteann riders whizzed past the finish line on Elphin Street last Wednesday afternoon, there was one man who knew exactly how the cyclists were feeling after a fast opening 155k.
Sitting nice and quietly behind the podium, having just been brought out of the comfort of the Plunkett Home, 88 year old John Connon’s mind must surely have gone back to the early sixties when he competed in the prestigious event.
And not only did Dublin native John compete in one Ras – but in three – along with representing Ireland in the Cycling World Championships in Germany!
John, who initially moved to Cavetown outside Boyle, to a barge on the River Shannon and then to his daughter Sara, now resides in the Plunkett Home in Boyle and his achievements on two wheels are legendary.
Riding then for his local club Dublin Wheelers, John also achieved success on the track and according to press reports at the time: “John Connon caused a sensation at Manchester Wheelers meeting in Harris Stadium, Fallowfield when on his first appearance on the famous track, he won the seven miles motor paced event from the outgoing champion, the famous Tommy Simpson in a time of 11 minutes and 36.9 seconds. World champion Reg Harris recognised the potential of Connon and gave him a job at the stadium at Fallowfield where he has been for the last fortnight. One of the smallest riders in Dublin cycling circles, Connon is an excellent track man and two years ago, earned a trip to Denmark as a result of winning several races in the Phoenix Park”.
When Stage 1 of the 2025 Ras Tailteann concluded on Wednesday last, Roscommon cyclists and former winner of the race in 2022 and number one ranked cyclists in Ireland Daire Feeley made time to met up with John and have a chat about how cycling has changed since the sixties.
It was an historic moment, as captured above by Boyletoday.com, and one that will certainly go down in the memory of John, Daire and those present on the day who witnessed two Ras legends meet for the first time.
