Swords Cycling Club
Race Circuits


Many Thanks to new member Brian McNamara who got this page going. It is a work in progress as Brian is a 'Southsider' and we should give him 2 points every week for just finding the Sign on !!!!!
Thanks to Brian for the sketches & the map references and to Fred for precise lap distances & Maps

<Link to Lap & Complete Race distances in Miles & Km>

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Ballyboughal CP (? x 9mile laps)
(Early season 2 laps, mid season 3)


<Detailed>

How to get there from Swords:
Traveling North up the Main St of Swords, turn left at the Castle in the direction of Ashbourne on to the Rathbeale Road. After 2.5 Miles there is a RH turn signposted Ballyboughal. Ballyboughal is a small village about 3 miles up this road (direction of the Naul). Church on the left, sign on & park 100 yards up hill at Ballyboughal GAA Club
How to get there from M50

Take the exit off the M50 for the M1 Belfast.
Take the exit off the M1 for Rush/Skerries/Donabate.
Turn right on the roundabout at the end of the exit heading for Balbriggan.
Go straight past the turn off (Blakes Cross) for Rush and Skerries, there will be an Esso Service station on your left called Blakes Cross Service station.
About 100 yards after this station there is a left hand turn signposted for Balyboughal, take this turn.
Keep going straight all the way until you reach Balyboughal village.
Route Description:

Start outside O'Connor's pub, facing north. Go up the drag (& hill) to the Nag's Head (need to dig deep just before the corner!), and turn left , where you'll quickly descend. Then there's a rise again, and you come to the second turn left (a sweeping turn at the bottom of the decent). Keep going along this road (a little bit windy, so keep well in to the left), until you get to the next turn, another left with a slight rise out of the corner (at Xroads). Keep going along here , slight sweeping right hand bend and then left, follow the road, to the left hand bend at the 1798 monument, around this bend and you're in the finishing straight straight, or on the first lap you get to the bridge in Ballyboughal and you're turning left again up the drag.

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Oldtown 10 MileTT (or Oldtown CP)
(Sign on & Park at Oldtown Church - Starts & Finishes at Graveyard)


<Detailed>

How to get there:
Traveling North up the Main St of Swords, turn left at the Castle in the direction of Ashbourne on to the Rathbeale Road. Keep travelling down this road, past the turn for Ballboughal, past the Rolestown Inn, past the Texaco Garage and 4.7 Mile from Swords, you come to a Xroads with the right turn signposted 'Oldtown'. Turn right and after about 2.5 miles you will come to Church on your RHS. Sign on & park here.
Route Description:

Starts and finishes from the Graveyard. This is approx 1.5 miles from the Sign on. From the Church, down to the next
Xroads, left, up a slight rise and right at the next Xroads.
Starting from the Graveyard, after about 300 yards you are out onto the backend of the Ballyboughal circuit. Take the next left at the next signposted 'Garristown'. Couple of miles up this road and you come up a slight hill into Garristown where you turn left. Next section has some fast and slightly windy bits until you take to a very sharp left off the main road. The sign at this junction points to Swords 11km (but you're not going to Swords!!!! - you're are turning left).
Straight on from here, after a about 2 miles thru a Xroads to finish at the Graveyard.
(Course is 'slightly' longer than 10 Miles).

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Bog of the Ring CP
(Early season 4 laps, mid season 5)

How to get there:
Travel North on the new Motorway, and take the turn off for Balbriggan
which would bring you into Balbriggan from the south side of the town. You come off the Motorway on the left hand slip road, come to a small roundabout, turn right to coss over on the bridge and turn for Balbriggan on the other side. You are now on the old Balbriggan Road. A few hundred yards and straight through a small roundabout and past this there is a left turn for Bog of the Ring and Ring of Commons Sports Centre (for start & sign on)

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Corduff CP (? x 12 mile laps + 3 miles)
(Early season 2 laps, mid season 3)


<Detailed>

How to get there from Swords:
Traveling North up the Main St of Swords, turn left at the Castle in the direction of Ashbourne on to the Rathbeale Road. After 2.5 Miles there is a RH turn signposted Ballyboughal. Ballyboughal is a small village about 3 miles up this road (direction of the Naul). Church on the left, sign on & park 100 yards up hill at Ballyboughal GAA Club
How to get there from M50

Take the exit off the M50 for the M1 Belfast.
Take the exit off the M1 for Rush/Skerries/Donabate.
Turn right on the roundabout at the end of the exit heading for Balbriggan.
Go straight past the turn off (Blakes Cross) for Rush and Skerries, there will be an Esso Service station on your left called Blakes Cross Service station.
About 100 yards after this station there is a left hand turn signposted for Balyboughal, take this turn.
Keep going straight all the way until you reach Balyboughal village.
Route Description:
Sign on and Start is in O'Connors pub in Ballyboughal, facing south, turning left at the bridge in Ballboughal, heading for the old Swords/Balbriggan road, heading north, turning left at the Five Roads, up past John Shorts house, on up the hill, and then descending, arriving at the Xroads at the top of the Nags Head, and down into Ballyboughal. Two laps of this circuit and the finish is on the circuit past Ballyboughal, past the 'Hanging Baskets' and on a bit more, with the finish just before the flyover over the motorway, road widens slightly, slight rise with good visibility.
Safety considerations for this particular route:
1. When coming out on to the Swords, Balbriggan road, keep well into the left.
2. Caution on the left turn at the top of the Nags Head as you will be decending. Both these turns are a good distance from the finish so no need to take unneccesary chances. Also there is a square manhole cover on this corner (slippery when wet).
3. After fiinshing please take a minute or two before riding back along the route as other riders may be still 'steaming' towards the line.

Alternative Finish:
As per 2004 & 2005 Swords Grand Prix and proposed to be used in this years Swords CC Club C/ships would finish on the Nevitt ie on the long climb.

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Balscadden CP (New Course 2006)
4/5/6 laps (5.71 miles & .75 mile to finish)

How to get there:
Travel North on the new Motorway, and take the turn off for Balbriggan
which would bring you into Balbriggan from the south side of the town. You come off the Motorway on the left hand slip road, come to a small roundabout, turn right to coss over on the bridge and turn for Balbriggan on the other side. You are now on the old Balbriggan Road. A few hundred yards and straight through a small roundabout and straight. The Balrothery Inn is on the RHS about a mile up this road. About 300 yards past the Balrothery in there is a left turn signposted Balscadden & Gormanstown . (This is Turn 1 on the Balrothery CP). Follow this road up to the Xroads, straight accross, up a long drag. At the crest of the hill there is a left turn for Balcadden.
(Alternatively:
Travel north through Balbriggan, past the town turn left at 'The Hunstman Inn'. A few hundred yards up this road there is right hand turn for Stamullen. Ignore this turn but instead keep going with Gromanstown College on your right up the hill. At the top of the hill turn left for Balscadden.
Route Description:

This race starts (or may start in Balscadden itself) and finishes on un uphill stretch of road the far side of Balscadden and travels in a clockwise direction in the opposite direction to the course we used to use taking in the other half of the old Stamullen big lap. Starts and fiinshes on the new stretch of road over the Motorway on the far side of the village. Up the hill and left, downhill towards Naul Balbriggan road, through the mini roundabouts and left up the hill. Top of hill left for Balscadden, through village, half a mile to the start/finish line

<Link to Detailed Map>

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Balrothery CP
(Early season 5 x 4 mileslaps, mid season 6/7)


<Detailed>

How to get there:
Travel North on the new Motorway, and take the turn off for Balbriggan
which would bring you into Balbriggan from the south side of the town. You come off the Motorway on the left hand slip road, come to a small roundabout, turn right to coss over on the bridge and turn for Balbriggan on the other side. You are now on the old Balbriggan Road. The Balrothery Inn is on the RHS about a mile up this road.
Route Decription:
The race starts & finishes accross from The Pub and about 200 yards towards Balbriggan.
It takes the first left, climbs a very short hill, quick & and sharp decent and and up another short hill, left at the next xroads(although it looks like a T-Junction on the map?). A draggy bit of road and left again. Slight downhill, slightdrag, and slightdown hill again coming out facing the Balrothery Inn, and then about 300 yards to the start finish line. Lap is 4 miles.

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Stamullen CP (The big lap)
3 laps: 24 miles


<Link to Detailed Map>

How to get there:
Travel North on the new Motorway, and take the turn off for Balbriggan
which would bring you into Balbriggan from the south side of the town. You come off the Motorway on the left hand slip road, come to a small roundabout, turn right to coss over on the bridge and turn for Balbriggan on the other side. You are now on the old Balbriggan Road. A few hundred yards and straight through a small roundabout and straight. The Balrothery Inn is on the RHS about a mile up this road. About 300 yards past the Balrothery in there is a left turn signposted Balscadden & Gormanstown . (This is Turn 1 on the Balrothery CP). Follow this road up to the Xroads, straight accross, up a long drag. At the crest of the hill there is a left turn for Balcadden, but are going straight down the hill. Slight bend at the bottom, and you are in the finishing straight. College on left, shop on the right. Sign on is around the next left.
(Alternatively:
Travel north through Balbriggan, past the town turn left at 'The Hunstman Inn'. A few hundred yards up this road and turn right for sign on)
Route Description:

Starts heading for Stamullen, takes a left, narrow & bend, and onto the climb. Down far side and left, flat & fast, next left and up a drag. Fast decent, slight bend, 400 yards to the finish line, next left comlpetes first lap.

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Stamullen - Balscadden CP (The smaller lap)
6 laps: 26 miles


<Link to Detailed Map>

How to get there: (Sign on Start & Finish same as Stamullen CP)
Travel North on the new Motorway, and take the turn off for Balbriggan
which would bring you into Balbriggan from the south side of the town. You come off the Motorway on the left hand slip road, come to a small roundabout, turn right to coss over on the bridge and turn for Balbriggan on the other side. You are now on the old Balbriggan Road. A few hundred yards and straight through a small roundabout and straight. The Balrothery Inn is on the RHS about a mile up this road. About 300 yards past the Balrothery in there is a left turn signposted Balscadden & Gormanstown . (This is Turn 1 on the Balrothery CP). Follow this road up to the Xroads, straight accross, up a long drag. At the crest of the hill there is a left turn for Balcadden, but are going straight down the hill. Slight bend at the bottom, and you are in the finishing straight. College on left, shop on the right. Sign on is around the next left.
(Alternatively:
Travel north through Balbriggan, past the town turn left at 'The Hunstman Inn'. A few hundred yards up this road and turn right for sign on)
Route Description:

Starts heading for Stamullen, takes a left, narrow & bend, and onto the climb. Left at the top of the climb, down a narrow road, fast bit where you cross the motorway and slightly uphill through the small village of Balscadden, then left at the T-Junction and down far side. Fast decent, slight bend, 400 yards to the finish line, next left comlpetes first lap.

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Batterstown : Mullagh
(2 Laps of Mullagh circuit -25.6 Miles)

This course is sometimes used for our Club 25 Mile TT, but more usually of late we use of the Dunsany (Green sheds) circuit using a Start/Finish line that is approx half a mile past the disused Garage in Batterstown. This course as used by the IVCA is exactly 25 miles

25 Mile TTs (Latest most accurate - Out & Back)
In 2008 we used the IVCA measured course for the 25 mile TT. Sign on was in Batterstown but the Start and Finish are clearly marked 2km on the Dublin side of the road on the Dublin side of Batterstown. Note the Start and finish are slightly staggered by approx 10 yards.
The TT travels 12.5miles out to the first small roundabout short of Trim

How to get there from M50:
Come off the M50 at Blanchardstown and travel north in the direction of Navan. Through the first roundabout at Blanch, past the turn offs for the Blanchardstown Centre and past the turn off for Clonee. You should now be past the end of the Dual Carriageway. Past next left (which would bring you into Dunboyne), past two more minor left turns still travelling north. Just past the major right turn (now served by a new roundabout) whch would bring you to Fairyhouse/Rathoath, take the left turn heading for Trim and Batterstown is approx 3 miles up this road. Park & sign on & start finish just past the Church on the RHS.
For the record the point where you turned off the Navan road heading for Batterstown is called Black Bull (although you wont see this on any sign post)
How to get there from Swords:
Top of Main St, turn right at the Castle and travel along the Rathbeale Road all the way accross until you come to the Ashbourne Road, where you go straight accross roundabout and head for Rathoath. Into the Village and take the left turn, past Fairyhouse and keep going until you come ot the Navan Road. (now served by new rounabout) . Take the exit straight across onto the Trim road. Three miles from here (Black Bull) to Batterstown.
Route Description:
If you're looking for a fast 25 - forget it!!!! The course is 2 laps of the Mullagh which includes a wee bit of a hill and its a little longer than 25 Miles (all good training though). Course starts at the Old Garage, direction of Trim and takes a left after about 3 miles. Slight downhill, and bit of a climb. Accross to the Dunboyne/Summerhill road, left in the direction of Dunboyne and left for Batterstown after about 4 miles coming out facing the Church to complete lap 1.
A good testing course which sometimes is used for CP's , so its worrth doing even if you hate time trails!!!!!

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Batterstown : Green Sheds (Dunsany)
(3 Miles to Green Sheds - 10 mile laps)
(2 lap race=26 miles)

How to get there from M50:
Come off the M50 at Blanchardstown and travel north in the direction of Navan. Through the first roundabout at Blanch, past the turn offs for the Blanchardstown Centre and past the turn off for Clonee. You should now be past the end of the Dual Carriageway. Past next left (which would bring you into Dunboyne), past two more minor left turns still travelling north. Just past the major right turn (now served by a new roundabout) whch would bring you to Fairyhouse/Rathoath, take the left turn heading for Trim and Batterstown is approx 3 miles up this road. Park & sign on & start finish just past the Church on the RHS.
For the record the point where you turned off the Navan road heading for Batterstown is called Black Bull (although you wont see this on any sign post)
How to get there from Swords:
Top of Main St, turn right at the Castle and travel along the Rathbeale Road all the way accross until you come to the Ashbourne Road, where you go straight accross roundaboutand head for Rathoath. Into the Village and take the left turn, past Fairyhouse and keep going until you come ot the Navan Road. (now served by new rounabout) . Take the exit straight across onto the Trim road. Three miles from here (Black Bull) to Batterstown.
Route Description:
When this course is used for a CP, the Start/Finish is from the disused garage in Batterstown. Three miles to the right turn at the Green sheds (ok they are no longer green!!!) and you are onto the 10 Mile loop. Up past the shop and its actually the third left (sharpish turn) and straight down to the T-junction at Dunsany. up a draggy bit of road to come back onto the Trim road, up a bit of a rise at Warrenstown, and back to turn left at the Green sheds to start on lap 2.
When this course is used for a 25 mile TT, there is a start/finish used by the Vets about half a mile past the disused gargage with 2 laps of the 10 mile loop making up the 25 miles

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Boot Inn
( 6 lap race=28 miles)

How to get there from M50:
Take the exit for the Airport. Turn right at main Airport roundabout direction of Swords. Turn right at the next roundabout (just past the Coachmans Inn. Follow the road until you come to another small roundabout, taking the first exit, and turn left after about 100yards. The Boot Inn is about half a mile down this road.
How to get there from Swords:
Heading from Swords towards the Airport.Turn right at the Coachmans roundabout, which is the roundabout before the main Airport roundabout. Follow the road until you come to another small roundabout, taking the first exit, and turn left after about 100yards. The Boot Inn is about half a mile down this road.
How to get there from Ashbourne Road
Heading North from Finglas (N2) direction of Ashbourne. Turn right at the lights at timber yard. Come to a roundabout, straight through. Follow road (Airport Runway on your right) for about 1.75 miles to Boot Inn.
Route Description:

Race starts outside the Boot Inn and takes a sharp left onto the R122 after half a mile. Long straight (although map shows a bend) to a medium sized roundaboud when we once again turn left and travel along with the Airport runway on your RHS. The finish line is on this stretch of road. Past the finish line the road turns left and towards the Boot Inn and so onto the next lap. Laps are approx 5 miles. On the map the circuit looks square, but it as it has three turns it feels triangular. This circuit is flat (& fast!!!) but can be quite difficult in windy conditions due to the lack of cover. On a windy day, you get to experience a tailwind, crosswind & headwind on each lap.
You can be grovelling at 17mph into a crosswind then turn down the runway leg spinning a 53x12.!!!

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Man-O-War(2005 New circuit)

How to get there:
Travel North on the new Motorway, and take the turn off for Balbriggan
which would bring you into Balbriggan from the south side of the town. You come off the Motorway on the left hand slip road, come to a small roundabout, turn right to coss over on the bridge and turn for Balbriggan on the other side. You are now on the old Balbriggan Road. The Balrothery Inn is on the RHS about a mile up this road.
Route Decription:
This is a new Man-O-War circuit this year (2005) and is different to both versions previously used in recent years. The race can start either outside the Balrothery Inn and heading south (direction of Swords) where it will turn left at Murtaghs Pub for the first of 3 laps. (Alternatively the sign on & start can be the Man O War). Finish in both cases out Man O War pub

Race sets off for Knock Cross, and proceeds to left turn at
Ballough, just before Murtaghs, along Balrothery-Swords road.
Ballough to Man O'War - long drag!
Left after Man O'War for fast twisting plunge past Courtlough back to Knock X.
Finish is at the Man O'War on the fourth lap.
Distances
Balrothery to Knock X - 1.5Km
Loop - 11Km app.
Knock X to Man O'War [finish] - 8Km app.

Any suggested improvements on the directions or route discriptions appreciated
Hugh @ swordscc@eircom.net

Please the above is only a rough draft - all suggested improvements welcome