Irish road race announces June date as popular meeting returns in Republic of Ireland for first time since 2022
The Kells Road Races will go ahead in 2026 a week before the Tandragee 100 after the organisers confirmed the Co Meath event would run from June 20-21.
The popular Irish meeting was last held in 2022 and joins the Skerries 100 and South West Road Races at Athea on the calendar for 2026 as the sport returns in the Republic of Ireland for the first time in four years.
Crippling insurance costs have prevented any road races from running since 2022, while motorcycling in the south was dealt a huge blow last year, when no short circuit races, trials or motocross events were run.
However, governing body Motorcycling Ireland secured an insurance policy covering all disciplines of motorcycling this year, with budgeting for three road races.
In December, Motorcycling Ireland’s PRO, Karl Brady, told the News Letter there was the possibility of further “add-on races”, which could potentially include the Fore club’s ‘Race of the South’ at Walderstown.
“The way the insurance was done for 2026 to get all disciplines over the line was called a basket policy, which allowed 26 motocross events, five short circuits, and three road races, so the various disciplines had a structured amount of events,” Brady said.
“But with the road racing, there is the opportunity of adding on further events, which would be on top of the premium. As it stands now, we budgeted to run three
road races, and the possibility of extra races is there.”
As it stands, there will now be seven Irish national road races in 2026 in addition to the North West 200.
The season will blast off with the Cookstown 100 in April followed by the NW200 in May, Kells and Tandragee in June, the Skerries 100 and Armoy in July and the returning Mid Antrim 150 (July 31-August 1). The South West Road Races at Athea in September is set to be the final road race of the year.
A government-backed effort in conjunction with the MCUI (Ulster Centre) is also underway in a fresh attempt to revive the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod in 2027, giving motorcycling fans plenty of reason for optimism after a tough few years for the sport following the Covid pandemic and insurance challenges.
2026 Irish Road Racing Calendar
April 24-25 – Cookstown 100
May 6-9 – North West 200
June 20-21 – Kells Road Races
June 26-27 – Tandragee 100
July 4-5 – Skerries 100
July 24-25 – Armoy
July 31-August 1 – Mid Antrim 150
September 12-13 – South West Road Races Athea