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IBA (Ireland) Newsletter Meetings and Merchandise

  1. The 2023 RTE season is upon us.

    The first one is just under a fortnight away at 12am on Sunday 26th March, meet at The Beach Bar, Aughris Head, Sligo F91YE98. This was the RTE that was supposed to happen in March 2020 before the Pandemic Lockdowns kicked in. All attendees will receive a free IBA Ireland Sticker.

     

  2. IBA(I) are now able to provide a limited range of branded Merchandise, Charlie McCrea (aka Splitter 142) will be coordinating the various clothing, stickers etc, which will initially comprise the following:

    1. Flags,

    2. Caps,

    3. Soft shell jackets,

    4. Body warmers/Gilets,

    5. Stickers,

    6. Compass Gold Patches.

    Further details will be detailed on the Forum and Website later in the month.

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IBA (Ireland) Newsletter Spring 2023

The 2023 IBA Ireland Photo Rally is now LIVE.

 

2023 Changes:

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1. There will be NO Rider table, nor links to individuals albums displayed on the website. Riders will receive their upload link as per normal. The only people able to view the album is the rider ,ourselves and anyone the rider chooses to share the viewing link with.

2. The web page will show an up to date total number of riders currently entered in the event. No individual names will be listed

3. The minimum number of locations to be uploaded to receive a "bronze" certificate has been increased to 10.

​4. We have decided to discontinue the monthly " brief" location.

5. The €10 entry fee has been switched to £10 GBP entry fee. This is due to banking fees being incurred through paypal which we can no longer sustain and a general increase in costs such as website, postage and location research costs.  At current exchange rates, It is a very modest increase in the entry fee which has not increased in over ten years. Switching to Sterling avoids a larger Euro increase and rip off Paypal banking charges.

6. READ the PDF file download . It contains IMPORTANT information

7. There is a location this year that requires TWO photos to successfully achieve it.

8. We don't care what motorcycles you use.

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Home from the Sea

This years Photo Rally are almost all RNLI Lifeboat stations with the exception of Arranmore Island , whose station is currently being rebuilt!.

 

We hope to see as many of you taking part in our little adventure again, or if you haven't taken part before - what are you waiting for.

 

Regards,

 

 

Graeme Ferguson

 

 

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IBA (Ireland) Newsletter Christmas 2022.

Wishing all the members of the Iron Butt Association Ireland a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with safe riding wherever you are or are going.

I would like to thank Chris McGaffin for the honour of being asked to take over from him; he and Joe Fisher have always been very supportive of my Iron Butt related Long-Distance Riding progress.

Chris has not gone away; he is providing sound advice and he will continue to be our Rally-Master, he is working hard on next years Wolfhound Photographic Rally and has a few other cunning ideas up his sleeve.

Joe Fisher is helping me with ideas to improve the riding opportunities and to simplify the ride certification process.

Charlie McCrea (aka Splitter 142) is also assisting and is most knowledgeable on Social Media matters.

 

I have already posted several events on the Iron Butt Ireland Facebook page, with the European Rides to Eat and the major FIM Touring Section events in Europe and North Africa, which if you are not familiar with, are great craic and usually very good value; We will re-start the Ireland based RTEs which were stopped by COVID19, with the following:

  • Sunday 26th March 2023 at 1200 – The Beach Bar, Cartronofarry East, Templeboy, Co. Sligo, F91 YE98; This was the RTE that was scheduled for late March 2020 until the pandemic restrictions kicked in.

 

  • Sunday 21st May 2023 at 1200 – Sean’s Bar, Athlone; is the oldest bar in Ireland, Europe and possibly the world: there have been previous RTEs in the Highest pubs in Leinster (Johnnie Fox’s, 910ft above sea level) and Ulster (The Ponderosa, 946ft above sea level).

 

  • Sunday 16th July 2023 at 1200 – Top of Coom,  is Ireland’s Official Highest Pub (OSI verified) at over 1045ft above sea level, located in Kilgarvan, just a short, scenic drive from Killarney, Kenmare and Macroom.

 

I have been in contact with our Galactic President (Mike Kneebone), who has provisionally sanctioned some additional Irish themed certificated rides (artwork and ride rules are in progress) including:

  • A Saint Patrick’s Day Saddle Sore or Bun Burner.

 

There will be an overarching Certificate for completing all four Pagan Days, like the Four Seasons Rides.

 

I will hopefully be adding these to the IBA Ireland Forum and to our website in the near future (when I get the hang of all this electronic wizardry), in addition to refreshing the website.

 

There are some ideas for 2024 being worked on.

 

 

Have a great Festive Season and Safe Riding, I look forward to meeting you in the future.

 

Graeme Ferguson

 

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Since 2008, Chris McGaffin has been "President" of IBA Ireland. After 14 years , Chris has decided to take a step back ( but not away). As of 15th October 2022, Graeme Ferguson is the new head of the  Iron Butt Association in Ireland.  Chris intends to continue  playing a part in the organisation.

 

Chris said - " It has been a hell of a ride since 2008 - Certifications, development of new rides ,running 24 Hour competitive rallies, creating and hosting special one off events ( Isle of Man, Iceland & Sicily SS1000s) and running the Annual Photo rally in various guises . Now it's time for change and some fresh input".

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