The Irish Cycling Campaign is deeply saddened by the heartbreaking news from Galway, where a 6 year old girl lost her life following a road traffic incident while cycling.
Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with her family, friends, and all those affected by this devastating loss. No parent should ever have to endure such grief. No child should ever be unsafe on our roads – whether walking, cycling, or travelling in any way.
This tragedy is a stark reminder of why we and so many others continue to campaign for safer streets, especially for our most vulnerable road users. It is simply unacceptable that in 2025, families still have to fear for their children’s safety when they cycle or walk in their own communities.
We echo the calls already being made across Galway and beyond for urgent investment in safe, segregated cycling infrastructure – not just in cities, but in towns and rural areas too. Nationally, we need a step change in how we design our roads, prioritising safety, accessibility, and dignity for people of all ages and abilities.
We will continue to advocate for the changes needed to ensure this kind of tragedy never happens again. Every child deserves to get home safely.
Neasa Bheilbigh
Chairperson of the Executive Committee
Irish Cycling Campaign
Hello, Neasa, how are you? My name is Lívia Gallo and I’m a cyclist in Galway, I cycle every day to work, even when the weather is not nice. I’m here because I just read your words here and I’m glad that someone is speaking up about the lack of safety in Galway for cyclists. I have been riding my bike every day for over a year. I have had a few incidents that have left me sad and fearing for my life, as I have come close to dying due to the recklessness of some drivers, some who honk and scare me, even when I am doing the right thing, others who simply drive their cars right up against my bike. Last week, I had an incident where I thought I was going to die because when I was leaving the “Outback Jacks” in Ballybane, I went straight on the “Bothar na dTreabh” highway because it is the quickest way to my work and right at the beginning of the highway, before the gas station, a truck threw itself at my bike and shouted “get out of my way”, which made me very scared and because it was so close that it made me fear for my life. Other times I have suffered retaliation from other cars for using the road, but I believe that it is my right to use that route, as the other available route is not safe for bicycles either. I would like to know if there is a possibility of something being done about this highway so that we can use it without fear of dying. Thank you for your attention and for fighting for the cause of cyclists and for everyone’s safety. I am available to help with anything necessary for the safety of cyclists and also for a safer Galway. Thank you.