Unwanted Kilkenny bikes bound for Africa

200 bikes are on the first leg of their journey to Africa.

Rotary Kilkenny appealed to locals to donate unwanted bicycles with a collection container set up at Dunmore Recycling Centre late last year.

Yesterday they were loaded onto two trucks by army troops from James Stephens Barracks who departed around 7am this morning en route to Loughan House Open Prison in Cavan where inmates will repair them before they’re shipped out to The Gambia.

Bikes in The Gambia are coveted items but can be expensive. Typically somebody would have to save two months full salary to afford one.

Fr Sean Deverix  has been working & living in that region and is Rotary’s liaison with people there. He says good homes will be found for the items: