Two of our distinguished overseas ambassadors, Bobby McDonagh (Malaysia) and Brendan Lyons (Singapore) took to their bikes last week when they joined the 135 cyclists from Blazing Saddles raising funds in the Far East for the National Council for the Blind. The two-week trip covered 500 miles in Kuala Lumpur, Selanger, Malacca, Langkawi and Penang, and because it is partially sponsored by Guinness, the charity is expected to receive about £150,000 from their efforts. Some 17 blind people from Ireland and 25 locals joined the trip on tandems.
Apart from the presence of the ambassadors, the group was feted by dignitaries, including government ministers, at various stops and on Tuesday night was entertained by the Penang state orchestra. Blazing Saddles, led by chairman Fergus O'Hagan SC, cyclist Phillip Cassidy and broadcaster Tracy Piggott, arrive back in Dublin this morning.