Co-operation Ireland’s Maracyle has gone down in history as one of the island’s most famous charity events.

Below you can read transcript of an RTE report on 1984’s Maracycle which saw almost 2000 people cycle from Belfast to Dublin (and Dublin to Belfast) in the name of peace. The report is by Joe O’Brien.

Click here to watch the original footage.

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2019/0619/1056260-cooperation-north-maracycle/

Cyclists take part in a charity cross border maracycle organised by Co-operation North

The Co-Operation North Maracycle has two simultaneous starts, one in Dublin and the other in Belfast. The Lord Mayor of Dublin officiates as 1,200 cyclists depart from outside the Mansion House on their 103 mile cycle to Belfast.

As the Dublin cyclists head north, Lord Mayor Alfie Ferguson sees off almost 400 cyclists leaving Belfast en route to Dublin. The two groups passed each other along the Dublin Belfast Road.

The maracyle is organised by Co-operation North, the group that promotes closer links between north and south of Ireland.

Organisers say it is not a race it is merely a two day outing for leisure cyclists.

Ian Woods of Co-Operation North  says the maracycle is for everyone and by participating,

“Northerners will hopefully get a feel for what the south is really like and perhaps even more important, as someone from Belfast, southerners will get a feel for what Belfast is really like.”

Riders from America, Britain and Holland are participating and a number of charities as well as Co-Operation North will benefit from the maracycle.

The following day the cyclists will make the 103 mile return journey to their respective cities.

First broadcast on July 21, 1984.