Last Thursday, 10 April 2025, Irish Cycling Campaign attended the Shared Island Forum in St. Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle. We were invited along as an awardee of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund 2024, and as the national advocacy organisation for cycling in Ireland. Flying the ICC flag on the day was Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, our National Cycling Coordinator. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was the keynote speaker and he explained the Shared Island Initiative as a suite of projects where we are “building relationships while we are busy doing other things”. In Irish Cycling Campaign’s case, we are running a project entitled “Cycling across borders – exchanging know-how between cycling advocacy organisations, North and South“ along with Cycling UK Northern Ireland as we reported on recently here. 

And as part of that project, we are delighted to be running a special session at the Leitrim Cycling Festival which takes place from 23-25 May 2025 – see https://leitrimcyclingfestival.com/ and the images below. Our Shared Island session will be at 2pm on the Saturday, details to be made available over the coming weeks.

We were glad to hear of active travel and greenway schemes referred to in both the Taoiseach’s formal address and in the ‘fireside chat’ with the event moderator Lynette Fay, a BBC radio and TV presenter. The Taoiseach also mentioned his desire to see a really iconic North – South greenway / active travel project developed. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Lynette Fay at the fireside chat in Dublin Castle

We were not sure if he was referring to schemes currently advancing or being enhanced in the Donegal / Derry area (see https://www.interregeurope.eu/good-practices/north-west-greenway-network), those around the Carlingford area (https://www.carlingfordloughgreenway.ie/) or those associated with the Ulster Canal (see here for the details of the Ulster Canal Greenway Strategy) – or perhaps a newer proposal altogether? He also made reference to the Narrow Water Bridge, currently under construction, which will connect communities in the Omeath area of Co Louth with those in Narrow Water, Co Down. Either way, it’s great to see the appreciation of and support for the development of high quality cycling routes from the very top.

The remainder of the Shared Island Forum brought together a diverse array of traditional musicians and those involved in various community, cultural and research activities. The final session considered questions around climate, biodiversity and water, all of which are quintessentially cross border in nature, and where active travel and the decarbonisation of transport connect in. 

In conclusion, Irish Cycling Campaign was delighted to be there at the event, and to be meeting with representatives across the political, cultural, academic and advocacy realms, and building new connections, North and South. 

Note:
The ‘Shared Island Initiative Report 2024 – Action on a Shared Future’ sets out the fourth year of the Shared Island Initiative, and how the government has taken forward its commitment to engage with all communities and traditions to build a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The report was published on 10 April 2025 and is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/campaigns/shared-island/.

See page 47 of the report for a note on Irish Cycling Campaign and Cycling UK NI’s participation in Round 3 of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund.

Well used bike-parking stands (of a minimalist design type) at the Lower Yard of Dublin Castle

For Immediate Release Cycling Must Be at the Heart of Climate Action Plan 2025

As the Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25) is set to go to Cabinet today, the Irish Cycling Campaign is calling on government to clearly back cycling as a core climate solution – and to protect the funding and delivery needed to make it work.

Transport remains Ireland’s fastest-growing source of carbon emissions. If we’re serious about cutting emissions in line with our 2030 targets and our next five year carbon budget, we need fewer cars on the road and more people walking, wheeling and cycling. The upcoming CAP25 is a crucial test of whether the government is willing to take that challenge seriously.

“We need to complete safe, connected cycling networks across all our local authorities in this government’s term – not just plan them,” said Neasa Bheilbigh, Chairperson of the Irish Cycling Campaign. “The infrastructure that’s already in development can transform how people move in towns and cities across Ireland, but only if the political will and funding are there to deliver it.”

While recent years have seen a welcome increase in funding for cycling and walking, the delivery of infrastructure has been uneven. Without strong support in CAP25, Ireland risks falling short on its climate and transport goals.

The Irish Cycling Campaign joins a wide range of civil society voices in calling for a credible Climate Action Plan that prioritises proven solutions like active travel that reduce emissions, improve public health, and create more liveable communities as we move towards our 2030 targets.

ENDS

Additional Stats on Transport Emissions: 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between 1990 and 2023, transport emissions increased by 129.2%, rising from 5.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent to 11.79 million tonnes. This growth is the largest among all sectors during that period. By 2023, transport accounted for 21.4% of Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions, up from 9.3% in 1990. 

​​https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring–assessment/climate-change/ghg/transport/

​ Media Contact:

Neasa Ní Bheilbigh, Chair, Irish Cycling Campaign
Email: [email protected]

Damien O’Tuama, National Cycling Co-ordinator
Email: [email protected]

Dave Tobin, Vice-Chair, Irish Cycling Campaign
Email: [email protected]

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

Earlier today (Wed 02 April 2025), representatives from the Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) met with Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, to discuss priorities for cycling and walking in Ireland. ICC’s team comprised Neasa Bheilbigh, Dave Tobin and Damien Ó Tuama.

The discussions focused on the importance of stable, multi-annual funding for active travel projects, strengthening delivery structures, aligning Road Safety Authority (RSA) reforms with cycling needs, and ensuring active travel remains central to national transport policy.

Minister O’Brien reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to active travel and acknowledged the importance of sustained investment to complete cycling networks in cities and towns across the country. He expressed strong support for progressing safe, high-quality cycling infrastructure and ensuring local authority Active Travel teams have the resources and expertise needed for effective project delivery.

The Minister also recognised the role of active travel in improving road safety, reducing emissions, and supporting healthier, more liveable communities. He pledged to work with the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Department of Transport and Local Authorities to accelerate delivery and ensure cycling remains a key pillar of the Government’s transport strategy over the coming years.

The Irish Cycling Campaign welcomes the Minister’s support and looks forward to working together to turn these commitments into real improvements for people cycling across Ireland. We appreciate the Minister’s time and engagement, and look forward to continued collaboration in the months and years ahead.