We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of 2Wheels Cycles and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital to thank our wonderful partners in POD Promotions and our sponsor the Vodafone Ireland Foundation for helping to make the 2011 Tour de Picnic the best one yet!

We would also like to extend our thanks to our many promotion and merchandise sponsors who help make the experience extra special and last but by no means least our amazing 2011 Tour de Picnic cyclists without whom we would not be able to raise such fantastic funds for the children of Temple Street.

We look forward to seeing you all on the starting line on Friday 2^nd September 2011!

If you are participating in this year’s cycle and have any questions regarding your Pre-Registration or the 2011 Itinerary please do not hesitate to contact us at tourdepicnic@gmail.com

Vodafone Ireland is delighted to announce that it is one of the official partners of Electric Picnic 2011, the unique Irish music and arts festival which takes place in Stradbally, Co Laois on the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th of September, 2011. The partnership is part of a three year deal that will see Vodafone Ireland partner with the Electric Picnic until 2014.

Applauded for its eco-friendly initiatives, Vodafone is proud to be a festival partner of Electric Picnic. The boutique festival matches Vodafone’s own environmental strategy, the Green Agenda, which focuses on reducing Vodafone’s own impact on the environment and giving back to customers by offering sustainable, environmentally friendly initiatives including handset recycling. The Vodafone Ireland Foundation is also part of Vodafone’s commitment to be a responsible global citizen and member of society. To date, the Foundation has committed over €6m in funding to the charity sector in Ireland and it will shortly launch its World of Difference programme for 2011.

Throughout the weekend, all Vodafone activity will perfectly match Electric Picnic’s environmental ethos and the 32,500 festival-goers will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy a host of special Vodafone experiences, creature comforts and giveaways – all delivered with a greener, more sustainable take on festival fun!

The eclectic three-day festival will see a diverse mix of artists take to the stage, including heavy hitters such as Arcade Fire, Pulp and Chemical Brothers joining alternative acts such as Swedish pop sensation Lykke Li, reggae legends Jimmy Cliff and Toots & The Maytals and electronic sensations Flying Lotus, DJ Shadow, and Dave Clarke. Irish music has a strong presence at Stradbally this year with performers such as Sharon Corr, Mundy, O Emperor featuring alongside Ivan St.John, Sharon Shannon, Codes, and R.S.A.G. confirmed for the festival.

Paul Ryan, Vodafone Ireland Strategy Director added: “As a major Irish company our impact goes beyond our own operations, so we work hard to influence our customers to reduce their environmental impact as well.  We know we can’t do it alone, so through Electric Picnic we have the opportunity to spread the sustainability message.  We look forward to working with Electric Picnic to help make a greener, cleaner festival”.

As part of Vodafone’s involvement at the festival, the Vodafone Ireland Foundation is also contributing €30,000 towards the running cost of Tour De Picnic for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, the unique charity challenge that will combine an 80km cycle with Electric Picnic, all to raise vital funds for the children’s hospital.  On the 2nd September, Temple Street hopes that 1,000 cyclists of all ages will depart from Dublin for Electric Picnic on the Tour de Picnic challenge. The event is the biggest leisure charity cycle in Ireland and is the biggest cycle to any music festival in the world. It is also the most environmentally friendly transport effort to any event in Ireland.

Speaking about the partnership with Vodafone, Angela McNulty, Special Events Manager at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital said: “We are thrilled Vodafone Ireland Foundation is proudly supporting Tour De Picnic this year. The Foundation has supported many wonderful projects at the hospital and we value their support and continued interest in our very special hospital. By supporting Temple Street in the cost of the initiative, Vodafone Ireland is ensuring that every penny raised by the cyclists will go towards much needed equipment that will help save lives”.

For further information and ticket details please visit www.electricpicnic.ie

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Further information:

Darina Sexton, Vodafone Ireland– 087 7753000–darina.sexton@vodafone.com

Laura Mannion, Drury – 087 2949302 laura.mannion@drury.ie

About Vodafone

Vodafone is Ireland’s leading total communications provider with 2.4 million customers across mobile, fixed line and DSL.  At 30th June 2011 Vodafone Ireland’s mobile telecoms base was 2.2 million. Vodafone is one of the world’s largest mobile communications companies by revenue with approximately 382 million customers in its controlled and jointly controlled markets as at 30 June 2011. Vodafone currently has equity interests in over 30 countries across five continents and more than 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com

Headlining on Saturday 3rd is the ‘King Of Mildly Cool’ and winner of the 2008 if. comedy award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, DAVID O’DOHERTY, whose wildly inventive songs and dry sarcasm are to die for. Before that, the fantastically funny, lightning fast, note perfect, mind blowing, Hip Hop Comedy Improv Troupe, ABANDOMAN are sure to wow the masses. The legend that is ARDAL O’ HANLON, better known as the gormless Fr. Dougal Mcguire from Fr. Ted makes an early afternoon appearance, alongside the ‘Godfather of Irish Comedy’, the peerless BARRY MURPHY. Currently one of the hottest tickets on the UK circuit ROISIN CONATY flies in for a blistering set and Republic of Telly presenter DERMOT WHELAN proves that he is more than just a zany anchorman. Be sure to look out for newcomer EDWIN SAMMON (a future star in the making), add in a whole host of the cream of the Irish comics and you are guaranteed an afternoon /evening of unbridled mirth.

Sunday September 4th sees joint MCs, the Duracell Bunnies that are ANDREW STANLEY and DAMIAN CLARK kick things off in their own inimitable style and the heavenly banter continues right throughout the day, culminating with multi award winning comic and Hollywood superstar, OMID DJALILI. With major roles in hit movies such as Gladiator, The Mummy, and Notting Hill, it is however as a stand-up that Omid’s star truly shines. What’s not to love about DEAD CAT BOUNCE? Superstars in Melbourne, Edinburgh and Montreal, this will be a triumphant homecoming for these comedy rock gods. Those of a gentler persuasion can enjoy the soothing sounds of the recently reformed all girl!!!!! combo, THE NUALAS (older, wiser, heftier). Two of the hottest sketch acts in the business are set to tear up the stage when Australia’s ANYONE FOR TENNIS? and our own FOIL ARMS AND HOG take to the stage for some early afternoon shenanigans .Be sure to catch the worldly wisdom and acerbic wit of the self styled crown prince of ‘bitter’, the wonderful JOHN MOLONEY. Add into this heady mix circuit stalwarts JOE ROONEY, KARL SPAIN, PADDY COURTNEY, GEAROID FARRELLY along with many many others and the winner of the ‘Show Me The Funny’ competition, the wickedly subversive MARK HYNES and we’re sure you will agree that the rolling lawns of Stradbally estate are set to echo to the sounds of a billion belly laughs.

Further information: www.electricpicnic.ie

Register Today

Tour de Picnic

Malcolm O Kelly and Louise Johnston launch Tour de Picnic 2011 for Temple Street

Friends of Temple Street get festival fit for the 2 Wheels Tour de Picnic cyle to the Electric Picnic

Lending their support to the 2Wheels Tour De Picnic were Leinster rugby player Malcolm O’Kelly, Leinster’s most capped player who took part in last year’s Tour De Picnic, comedian Willie White, Fair City’s Pat Nolan, Apprentice Star Geraldine O Callaghan, 2FM DJ Ruth Scott, Q102 DJ Ray Shah and Fade Street’s Louise Johnston.

Why not join them and sign up today for the cycling and music adventure of the year!

Register Here

To secure your place on the 2011 Tour please complete the online registration form (open on 15th March) and pay a €50 deposit.

Once you have submitted your registration a member of the Tour Team will be in touch with your fundraising pack.

Please note: The minimum fundraising target for the 2011 Tour de Picnic is €500. If you are unable to meet the sponsorship requirements prior to the event you will forfeit your place on the challenge. Please read the Terms and Conditions.

To register you must complete and submit the official registration form. Once you have registered as a 2011 Tour Teammate you will be provided with an official sponsor pack to get you started.

As a Tour teammate you will also be provided with regular training information and festival news.

We look forward to seeing you on the Tour.