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Team Erasmus hosted by Irish Cycling Campaign!

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The hosts of the previous Erasmus+ Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action project trips that Irish Cycling Campaign took part in set incredibly high standards with their stimulating programmes and by looking after their guests so well, so we were a little nervous in ICC in devising a Dublin programme that could match the quality of the previous ones. We were keen to ensure that everyone had rich and educational experiences of our capital city and surrounds.

But with the help of many fabulous volunteers from ICC – and, in particular, members of our Local Group, Dublin Cycling Campaign – we assembled a diverse programme that responded to the four big themes of the project: climate action, sustainable transport, social inclusion and intergenerational collaborations. 

In this article, four of our active volunteers – Damien, Allison, Phil and Hugh – each provide a summary of the four core days of the programme, with further inputs and photographs shared by other ICC members.

There are many to thank for their support with the programme, but we wish to pay a special thanks to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, for his warm welcome to the city, and also to the staff of Dublin City Council for the loan of their Cycling Without Age trishaw which made a massive difference in terms of making our events fully inclusive for all of the Erasmus participants.

Friday 11 Oct [Damien Ó Tuama and Allison Roberts]

The Tailors’ Hall Session
The Dublin leg kicked off in the lovely Tailors’ Hall on Back Lane after the visitors walked (and wheeled) their way over from the Generator Hostel on Smithfield Square where the group of 45 persons stayed.   

Mairéad Forsythe, Chairperson of Irish Cycling Campaign, gave the formal welcome on behalf of ICC. She was followed by ICC’s National Cycling Coordinator, Damien Ó Tuama, who shared some of the history of the 300+ year old Tailors’ Hall, and introduced the group to the work of An Taisce and Irish Cycling Campaign. He also gave the group some insights into what’s happening with the Active Travel plans in Dublin City, and into the latest news on the development of the capital’s cycle facilities (as shown on the map below, kindly provided by the City Council).

Hugh and Chifly with the latest iteration of the Dublin City Cycle Network map

Following this local scene setting, each of the six partner organisations who had travelled to Dublin gave a mini-update on the latest news from their cities and towns.  

Students from IES Alhama introducing their school and the latest news from Corella

Crucial to any visitor landing into Ireland is getting a grasp of the local lingo, and Hugh Raftery from Dublin Cycling Campaign shared some essential Hiberno-English phrases and descriptors of the Irish weather as shown here.

Hugh with the first of his posters listing the essential descriptors for the types of rainy conditions that students might encounter on their trip

The morning session concluded with two very interesting presentations which responded squarely to two of the overarching themes of the project.

Firstly, Przemek and Greg from Merchants Quay Ireland spoke to the students and the teachers about the work their organisation does. In essence, Merchants Quay Ireland, a registered charity that supports people affected by homelessness and addiction, offers food, advice, health care, mental health support and addiction services. It offers accessible and effective services in a non-judgemental and compassionate way. 

The second mini-workshop was delivered by Solene from Voice, an Irish environmental charity that empowers individuals and local communities to take positive action to conserve our natural resources. Solene, pictured below, is working on the ”Fabric of Change” project, which is all about helping consumers understand the impact of their clothing choices on the environment, and empowering them to make more sustainable decisions. The attendees certainly came away from her session with a much clearer understanding of how fashion is one of the most polluting industries worldwide, creating major social and environmental issues.  

Solene Schirrer from Voice

A Walking Tour of the City with Alita
Irish Cycling Campaign was thrilled to have Alita Rivero to lead the walking tour of Dublin City. Alita is an Argentinian Dubliner who produced and edited the monthly Dublin Cycling Campaign newsletter for almost 10 years, and has a wonderful knowledge of the lanes and lore of the city. The group sampled many slices of the city as shown in some of the photos below. 

Alita Rivera (on the right) leading the walking tour at St. Patrick’s Park – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

The walking tour included a quick visit to Drury Street Bicycle Parking Facility – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

A mini-stop on the Millennium Bridge – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

The trishaw and Bloomin Crumlin’s e-cargo bike made everything easier for our tour around the city – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

Dinner in Blas Café (Allison)
We gathered at the Blas café (located in an old chocolate factory!) for our evening dinner, and were greeted with Irish tunes played by Brendan (on the uilleann pipes) and Joe (on guitar) – as pictured below. Hassan, our host and chef, put out canapes of little breads with beetroot hummus and then a buffet for us all to dig in. Everyone was hungry! The potatoes, chickpeas and salad (and chicken for the meat lovers) were all delicious, as were the dips, yoghurt and jalapeno. Definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been there! See https://www.blascafe.ie/. 

Joe and Brendan entertaining the guests

A live sample from the session – Footage kindly provided by Karen Keogh from Newtown School

After dinner, we headed back to the Generator Hostel, where Ari and I were able to bunk in with Libya and Aroa, teachers from the Estella team. 

Hugh and Damien receiving home grown melons from villa Maria and other edible gifts from Corella! 

Saturday 12 Oct – Cycle Tour to Howth via Mud Island & Bull Island Nature Reserve [Allison]

On Saturday we woke early and enjoyed a buffet breakfast in the basement of the Generator hostel. Ari & I had brought up Clon Bike Fest t-towels which we had just enough for all the teachers and adults 🙂  

Clockwise from front left – Ari, Chifly, Margarida, Edmundo, Tono and Cristina

At 9am we headed outside where rental bikes arrived from Irish Cycling Safaris (thanks Marion!) and River Cycles (thank you Paul!). The students and teachers chose their bikes and took a lap of the square to check the fit and brakes! Between the crew staying at the Generator Hostel and the 15+ Irish Cycling Campaign marshals, we had a full team of around 60 of us on bikes ready for the trip. Ari & I opted to marshall the rear of the bike convoy, along with Paul Corcoran from ICC on his cargo bike.

A brief encounter with Luke Kelly en route! – Photo – Biciclistas de Corella

Alita from Dublin Cycling Campaign – Photo – Biciclistas de Corella

We wove our way east alongside the Liffey and navigated lots of traffic lights, buses and drivers. When we reached the Convention Centre, we headed north towards our first stop at Mud Island Community Gardens. We spent about two hours at the gardens, looking around and learning about the project and the various wild herbs there as well as all around Ireland – from the importance of beauty and roses in treating shock (they were used as decoration for post-traumatic stress centers post war for soldiers), to alder as an important anti-bacterial, nettles as an important activator for the lymphatic system, and plantain as the best cure for nettle stings and good for healing wounds and digestive health!

Ari and I are still talking about the man who gave us the tour (Aaron Foley) and how he rubbed nettles all over his arms saying “they are only painful because we have been taught to think that” while he was covered in stings! After we got back to Clonakilty, Ari got a bunch of nettle stings and tried out the “it doesn’t really hurt it only tingles” tactic and it seemed to work!  

Aaron Foley explains the importance of biodiversity in our world – Photo by Allison

Playtime in Mud Island with Danielle and Snoobles (Photo by Denis)

We learnt that the Mud Island Community garden was on an old dumping ground and only after years of appeals to the Council was it handed over to become a community garden. It now thrives as a social and inclusive space run completely by volunteers. After the tour, we had a load of sandwiches delivered from the nearby Cloud Café and set off then to continue onwards on our cycle.

We headed north along the City Centre to Clontarf cycle route and then onto the coastal cycleway. This was a great easy and flat cycle – with one good downpour that soaked us all but then the sun came straight out again! Next stop was Bull Island – an area of particular national importance for its dunes and biodiversity. We were very grateful to have with us Karin Dubsky, the Coordinator of Coastwatch Ireland, and Dave Tilly, a very knowledgeable local man with a particular understanding of how the intertidal zone functions and changes. So many birds and other creatures depend on the dunes there for food and nesting.

Ari and I had to then cut our visit short and we made our way for the last few kilometres to Howth for a Dart to Tara Street, and then cycled back west along the Liffey, and onto the train back to Cork!

Bull Island sea shells – Photo – Biciclistas de Corella

En route on the coastal cycleway – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

Photo Credit – Damien Ó Tuama

Meanwhile the rest of the Erasmus gang finished up their tour with Karin and David, and made their way to Howth for fish and chips at Wrights of Howth. After the bikes were collected, the crew continued their multi-modal day’s journeys by DART back to the city and then by foot (and tram) to the Generator.  

A big thanks from Irish Cycling Campaign to all of our marshals who helped out over the course of the day. They were: Alina, Alita, Allison, Ciarán, Damien, Deirdre, Denis, Hugh, Mairéad, María, Patrick, Paul, Phil, Rory and Siobhán. 

Sunday 13 Oct – Wicklow Day [Phil]

Nine AM was our pick-up time to be brought by coach to visit Beyond the Trees in the Avondale Estate in Co. Wicklow. The morning was overcast and pretty cold for a mid October day, so being well wrapped up was a good call.

Avondale House and Estate is the birthplace of Irish independence pioneer, Charles Stuart Parnell. It is also the home of Samuel Hayes, a man ahead of his time. Not only did he write Ireland’s first book devoted to trees, but he also realised that the native forests of Ireland were disappearing. He knew the solution was in afforestation and managing woodlands, so he set about creating a forest park on his land. After nearly 300 years since Hayes’ time, many of the trees survive today and are in a healthy and mature state. It’s through this forest where a 1.4km long treetop walk and viewing tower has recently been built and where we began our guided tour.

Photo – Phil Murray

Beautifully constructed from locally sourced wood, the treetop walk has a gentle gradient but at its peak is 23 metres off the forest floor. It’s designed to be fully accessible for all ages and abilities. One of the elderly members of our party who has mobility issues availed of a wheelchair provided by the guide.

As we made our way along we were told stories of the history of the estate as well as the forest and wildlife. Bats were found living in the attic of the estate house during renovations. As a protected species, provision was made to allow the bats to easily get in and out via small openings in the sloped roof. We also learned of the reintroduction of birds of prey such as the red kite and the return of the red squirrel – the native Irish squirrel that was pushed out by the invasive grey squirrel. It is believed that the hunting skills of the pinemartins have reduced grey squirrel numbers and thus allowed the red squirrel to regain its territory.

At the end of the walkway we arrived at the spectacular 38m high viewing tower. This huge and impressive structure – like the walkway – used locally sourced timber and was accessed by a gently sloping walk-way. 11 levels up to the top and we were met with a beautiful autumnal view of the local Avondale forest, rolling green fields and distant mountain peaks. Wicklow’s highest peak at 950m, Lugnaquilla was easily visible in a north-western direction.

Photo – Phil Murray

There were two options to descend the tower: take the walkway eleven levels down, or else take a high-speed (13 second long) option via a stainless steel tube slide. Needless to say, almost our entire group took the slide including our eldest and least mobile member. Some of the younger members took the slide a few times.

Photo – Phil Murray

Following a delicious lunch on site, a group of us went on a one-hour walk around the grounds. Taking us through mature forests, past an old train line and along the banks of the Avondale River it was a fitting end to a highly enjoyable day immersed in nature.

Aroa, Libia and Phil – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

The day did not end with the Wicklow trip though. After getting back to the Generator, the crew headed to upstairs in Slattery’s on Capel Street  for some traditional grub, Dublin style. After the day outdoors and all the walking, their food went down well. 

Monday 14 Oct – Lord Mayor’s Reception / Further City Explorations [Hugh]

Our final day kicked off with a visit to the Mansion House in Dublin and to meet James Geoghegan, the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin. In what has now become an annual tradition, the Dublin Cycling Campaign presented the Lord Mayor with a bicycle for use over his term of office – see the separate Dublin Cycling Campaign story on this here. The group were delighted to get the chance to meet him outside the Mansion House.

Photo – Dublin Cycling Campaign 

Photo – Dublin Cycling Campaign 

We were welcomed into the Oak Room of the Mansion House, with an extended meeting with the Lord Mayor. He told us about the history of the Lord Mayor’s office. We then presented him with some gifts from Spain and Poland.  

Photo – Courtesy of Dublin City Council

Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, addressing the Erasmus guests

A symbolic gift from Corella – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

While in the Oak Room, we had a “Science Buzz” presentation by Michael Grehan. Michael is a Science Teacher from Belvedere College Dublin, and he demonstrated how physics is key to getting around by bicycle and to exploring the world around us. His demonstration was a real treat for both the teachers and the students. 

Michael Grehan demonstrating the gyroscopic effect! Photo – Carlos Isaba

In the afternoon, the teachers and adults met in the café of the National Gallery for the Coordinators meeting of the Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action project, while the students had some free time to explore the city further. Later in the afternoon then, we gathered at Foster Place for a Bike Disco organised by An Taisce to celebrate Climate Action Week, and the students had a chance to participate on a multi-person bike bus as shown below. 

Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

End of the Bike Disco outside of the offices of An Taisce on Foster Place – Photo – An Taisce

The four day / five night Learning / Teaching / Training trip finished up that night in the Generator Hostel with the awarding of certificates to all of the hard working participants, and with singing and mingling running late into the night.  

In Conclusion

Over the course of the four full days, participants engaged with each of the overarching themes of the project: climate action, sustainable transport, social inclusion and intergenerational collaborations. ICC hopes that the activities undertaken will spur both students and adults to explore and act on these topics in greater depth over the coming years.

Another benefit was, of course, in forging stronger bonds and friendships between all of the project partners. It was a pleasure for ICC to host and to reconnect with our friends from Spain, Portugal, Poland, Waterford and beyond! We are already looking forward to travelling to Estella in Navarra in 2025 for the final Learning / Teaching / Training trip. 

Irish Cycling Campaign wishes to thank our volunteers for their help with organising multiple aspects of the planning and execution of the programme – and particularly all of our marshals assisting on the group cycle on the Saturday. Thanks also to Dublin Cycling Campaigner Miren-Maialen Samper, who herself is from San Sebastian Donostia, who popped along over the course of the few days to welcome the crew in several languages. 

Finally, we wish to pay a sincere thanks again to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, for his warm welcome to the Mansion House, and indeed to Dublin City Council’s staff for their support with many elements of the trip. 

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Note

A summary video on the whole trip assembled by Biclistas de Corella can be viewed here: 


More photos on the trip are available within:

Links to stories on the previous trips and project website:

Official project website: 
https://www.erasmuscyclingschools.com/ 

Chifly and Hugh – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella

Dublin, Irish Posts, Northern Ireland

Irish Cycling Campaign at Shared Island Youth Forum Outcome Statement Launch

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It has been a busy few weeks in Irish Cycling Campaign, particularly the last week when we had the pleasure of hosting our Erasmus friends as part of the Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action project – and we’ll be posting a story on their experiences here next week. 

A few weeks earlier though, Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) was delighted to be invited to the launch of the Shared Island Youth Forum Outcome Statement in the Printworks Event and Exhibition Centre, Dublin Castle. There were 250 civic representatives from across the island in attendance, and Taoiseach Simon Harris TD delivered the keynote address. 

Taoiseach Simon Harris TD delivering the keynote address

The Shared Island Youth Forum comprises 80 young civic leaders from diverse backgrounds born since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The Forum met nine times over the last year to deliberate and agree upon a statement of their vision and values for the future of the island, across themes of Sustainability, Opportunity, Wellbeing, Culture, and Identity and Equality, with Irish Cycling Campaign feeding into the thematic session on Sustainability which was held in the Aviva Stadium in 2023.

Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, ICC’s National Cycling Coordinator, was at the launch flying the sustainable transport flag, along with Andrew McClean from Cycling UK Northern Ireland who had travelled from Belfast for the event. We were also delighted to bump into Caroline Whyte from Feasta and Karin Dubsky from Coastwatch Ireland (both member organisations of the Irish Environmental Network) at the launch. 

Andrew McClean (Cycling UK Northern Ireland) and Caroline Whyte (Feasta) at the launch in Dublin Castle 

Irish Cycling Campaign and Cycling UK Northern Ireland were particularly focused on the Sustainability strand of the vision, and were impressed to read the following (on page 8) within the Vision of Sustainability:

The island is connected by a fully integrated, localised and sustainable transport network, featuring:

  • a strong rail infrastructure, with a rail line to every county;
  • more trams, buses and commuter trains, and shared community cars;
  • safe walkways and improved cycling infrastructure;
  • a network of joined-up cycle paths and greenways that is a transformational amenity for residents and a driver for sustainable tourism.

Further on then under the section on “Inspiring Actions for a Shared Future”, Sustainability, the following is included:

  • Scale up investment in local accessible public transport, roads and cycling infrastructure for all; campaign to encourage more sustainable local tourism, through visiting and holidaying across the island (page 16).

It’s reassuring that the Youth Forum included these statements in their vision document. In fact, the values underpinning the report and the statements on sustainable transport above align well with Irish Cycling Campaign’s own values and vision – as can be read in our own statement of values here and in our recent submission on the All Island Strategic Rail Review. 

For more on the launch see:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/16c25-taoiseach-simon-harris-launches-shared-island-youth-forum-statement-of-vision-and-values-for-a-shared-future

The Shared Island Youth Forum Outcome Statement itself can be read here:
https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/305449/1e3e0782-ac7d-4c14-bf31-5bd178b33981.pdf#page=null 

Dublin, Irish Posts

Workday Community Impact Awards 2024

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Earlier today (Wed 09 Oct 2024) Irish Cycling Campaign attended the Workday Community Impact Awards in the lovely The Lighthouse Cinema on Smithfield Square. ICC was represented by our National Cycling Coordinator, Dr. Damien Ó Tuama. 

While the Campaign’s application was not selected for the finalists’ list, it was worthwhile heading along after being invited to the awards. It’s always very interesting to meet others from the NGO sector who are campaigning and working on social issues, and who face similar challenges to those that ICC encounter – eg. raising the profile of the issues and fundraising. 

After hearing pitches from the short-listed applicants, there followed a broad discussion on the role of business in supporting civil society (Community Groups, NGOs Social Enterprises), particularly in an inner city context. There were plenty of references to what’s sometimes (slightly clunkily!) called “the quadruple helix” of academia, business, government and civic society. This chimed with us in ICC as our work intersects with all four of those domains. 

The winners of the awards were then announced by Minister of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohue. They were:  

My Mind  – whose mission is to positively change lives by providing professional, affordable, accessible therapy to anyone experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges. https://www.mymind.org/. First place.

Novas – a registered charity and Approved Housing Body working with families and single adults who are disadvantaged and socially excluded; primarily those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. https://www.novas.ie/about-us/ – Second Place.  

The Down Syndrome Centre – which provides crucial services to children with Down syndrome. https://downsyndromecentre.ie/ – Third Place.

Some images from the day are shown below. 

Irish Cycling Campaign looks forward to engaging in the future with the attendees we met today!

Minister Paschal Donohue (left) and Graham Abell (Workday)

The winning organisation

Dublin, International Posts, Irish Posts

Irish Cycling Campaign hosting Erasmus+ Visit in October 2024

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It’s just over a month before Irish Cycling Campaign welcomes the Erasmus+ partners to Dublin for the local leg of the international project that ICC is participating in.

The project is called Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action, and “Learning, Teaching and Training” cultural exchange visits have already taken place in Corella (Spain), Azambuja (Portugal), Waterford, and Wodislaw Slaski (Poland) – see the www.irishcyclngcampaign.ie website for stories on each of these. 

The project partners will arrive into Dublin on Thursday 10th Oct and  leave on Tuesday 15th, with four action packed days of activities in between. This will include a guided cycle for the 60+ visitors along some of Dublin’s brand new cycling infrastructure on Saturday 12 October. 

We will be looking out to ICC members, and to Dublin Cycling Campaigners in particular, for some marshalling support for that group cycle, and for other help over the days of the trip. If you think you might be able to help out, please contact our National Cycling Coordinator (Damien Ó Tuama) here. All help very much appreciated so as to give a lovely warm welcome to the visitors.

For more information on the project itself, see https://www.erasmuscyclingschools.com/. 

Dublin, International Posts

University of Notre Dame & Irish Cycling Campaign Collaboration

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Irish Cycling Campaign was contacted in May 2024 by Ann-Marie Conrado, Associate Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in the US. The reason: to explore the feasibility of us helping to steer a project conducted by its ‘Design Thinking’ students on the challenge of increasing cycling ridership in Dublin. The students were engaging in a Notre Dame Dublin study abroad program. We were delighted to get on board!

Research Process
Soon afterwards, ICC members Colm Ryder and Dave Anderson joined the students in interactive and lively workshops to provide the background knowledge of what is happening in the cycling domain in Dublin and to help define the research question. Then in June, the team of Design Thinking students spent the month engaging on the streets with both cyclists and non-cyclists so as to understand the barriers to cycling, and proposing new approaches to addressing the challenges to get more people on bikes. 

The students presented their findings to an ICC delegation on 27th June at the home of Notre Dame in Dublin, O’Connell House on Merrion Square. Additionally, the students also discussed their findings with a delegation from Sligo Cycling Campaign while in the west the following week. 

Prof Ann-Marie Conrado with her University of Notre Dame students taking part in the project

On ‘Design Thinking’ itself, there appears to be no shortage of definitions of what it is, but essentially it can be thought of as an approach to problem-solving where it focuses on the solution to a problem instead of the problem itself. And according to Ann-Marie in conversations at the presentation, the process can be understood visually as a ‘double diamond’, which is a way to describe the steps taken in any design and innovation project, irrespective of methods and tools used. You can read more about it here.

Findings
The students covered a lot in their condensed month-long project. They delved into some of the fears around cycling such as the difficulty in using the Dublin Bikes bike-sharing scheme for the first time, the safety fears around navigating on two wheels, and the fear of bike theft. Then they examined what they described as ‘trigger events’ in prompting people to take up cycling after a long absence. Amongst the opportunities the team identified were proposals around improving the navigability of the city centre, as shown here:


Additionally, their proposed solutions examined the need for better poster campaigns to remind commuters of how quick and predictable (journey time-wise) journeys by bike can be – and wider campaigns to share tips and information between new and experienced cyclists. 

The students’ (59 slide long) presentation can be viewed here HERE and there is plenty in there for cycling advocates to chew on! 

A Perspective from Sligo
The eight members of Sligo Cycling Campaign who attended the Notre Dame presentation in the Sligo Park Hotel are looking forward to viewing it again and applying some of the learning.  Initially we wondered if a cycling project researched in a Dublin context would be applicable in a  town with a rural hinterland. We need not have worried as all of us were captivated by the positivity of the students and the transferability of their ideas. One thing that struck us was the value of diversity within the student team. They were students of Industrial Design, Political Science, English, Finance and other disciplines. 

Cycling advocates are all too aware of the barriers to cycling and the presentation covered these, but the kernel of the presentation for us was the focus on opportunities. The students described a scenario where Emma’s bus is delayed in traffic and she looks out the window to see people on bicycles whizzing by, to a subsequent scene where Emma is deciding to try cycling to work. But there was no road to Damascus, rather incremental steps with various supports along the way. Some supports, for example the map mentioned above, targeted practical issues such as “I don’t know the way”. Others addressed deeper emotional obstacles, such as “I’m scared!”. In the students’ scenario, this fear was addressed by Emma joining a “Cycling Sisters” support group and cycling, in the first instance, away from busy traffic.

In Conclusion
Irish Cycling Campaign sincerely thanks the students and staff of the University of Notre Dame for their work on this important topic. We think the collaboration was a valuable exercise, both for campaigners and students. We will, no doubt, be taking many of the recommendations forward as we advance our own advocacy strategy. We would also like to pay a special thanks to Eimear Clowry Delaney, Director of Notre Dame Dublin, for her contact with ICC from the outset. 

Finally, if your institution (academic or otherwise) is interested in working with Irish Cycling Campaign to further explore how to reshape the mobility system so that everyday cycling plays a much bigger part, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us via [email protected].   

Dublin, Irish Posts

Will new road designs protect people at junctions?

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Cyclists are at their most vulnerable at junctions — the location of one in four of all cycling fatalities. Can changes to traffic movements help make cycling safer?

In 2011 the Dublin Cycling Campaign highlighted what it considered to be the most dangerous junctions in Dublin. These were places where cyclists were left unprotected from vehicles and particularly vulnerable to collision with cars, buses or lorries …

Original article: Irish Times 11th May 2024

Related: Irish Cycle – What will it take for Ireland to protect cyclists at junctions?

Related: Dublin City Council – Protected Junctions

Dublin

Dodder Cycleway, Herbert Park to N11 Section – Press Release

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PRESS RELEASE FROM IRISH CYCLING CAMPAIGN
FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Dublin Cycling Campaign, the local branch of Irish Cycling Campaign, warmly welcomes the formal opening of the latest link of the Dodder Greenway – in this case, running alongside the river from Herbert Park to the N11 in Donnybrook, and connecting directly with Donnybrook Bridge (see map below).

This link is another important piece of the jigsaw in constructing a seamless and safe cycleway / greenway that will run from the River Liffey to Bohernabreena Reservoir in the Dublin Mountains. It also skirts around the edge of Donnybrook rugby stadium so it should help in providing a high quality cycle route for those choosing to cycle to the stadium for games. 

Úna Morrison, Chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign, said:

“This is a great day for commuting and leisure cyclists in Dublin. This link adds to the evolving Dodder Cycleway that will, ultimately, connect the coast to the mountains with a near-completely motor traffic free route. We were delighted to see the recent links opened in the South Dublin County area, and now we commend the City Council in completing this link, which is due to be followed directly by an open consultation process on the section from Dundrum Road to Milltown Road”. 

She added:

“The next element Dublin cyclists want to see is a super high quality link running from Dodder Park in Milltown/Clonskeagh and connecting into this facility – and also simplifying and greatly improving the N11 / Beaver Row / Ailesbury Road junction which is currently quite intimidating for novice cyclists. There are many schools in this area and there is simply huge potential to transform the commuting experience of many students”.

Mairéad Forsythe, Chair of the Board of Irish Cycling Campaign, said the following:

“South Dublin County Council have completed some fantastic sections of the Dodder Cycle Route in recent years, and already we are seeing simply huge numbers of locals and visitors using the route – both on foot and on cycles of all shapes and sizes. Many people are rediscovering their localities as a result of this investment in cycling.” 

Irish Cycling Campaign’s National Cycling Coordinator, Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, noted:

“the launch of this link comes immediately after the National Transport Authority’s announcement of the €290 million in funds for cycling and walking infrastructure in 2024. We know from experience abroad, but now also in Ireland, that when we invest in high quality cycling and walking infrastructure that connects to important destinations, and when we introduce lower safer speed limits in built-up areas, we get significant shifts in how people choose to travel. This is all part of a wider transformation of our mobility habits and the decarbonisation of our culture. We are really looking forward to the completion of the full Dodder Route in due course”. 

For further quotes, please contact:

Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator with Irish Cycling Campaign and An Taisce. Mobile 087-2840799 

 More information at:

www.irishcyclingcampaign.ie

https://www.dublincycling.com/

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publications/active-travel-investment-grants-2024-allocations/

https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/transportation/active-travel/projects/dodder-greenway-project/dodder-greenway-and-flood-defence-project-herbert-park-donnybrook-road-1 

Photos used in this article are from: https://www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil

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Irish Cycling Campaign (formerly Cyclist.ie)
5 Foster Place
Dublin 2
D02 V0P9
Ireland
www.irishcyclingcampaign.ie

Dublin, EU Posts, Irish Posts

Cyclist.ie and Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland Forge an Alliance

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Cyclist.ie is delighted to announce a collaboration with Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland. CFEI is the only official provider of the EU-standard Cycle-Friendly Employer programme in Ireland. Developed by the European Cyclists’ Federation, the programme is aimed at getting more people on bikes and cycling to work. Together, Cyclist.ie and CFEI support the development of more cycle-friendly routes nationwide and more funding opportunities for cycling. 

Cyclist.ie is the national cycling advocacy organisation for Ireland. At present it has 35 member groups countrywide in both urban and rural areas, and engages systematically with national level government departments and agencies, and with local authorities through its local groups. Cyclist.ie was founded in 2008 to advocate nationally for better cycling conditions, and built on the work of its member organisations, some of whom had commenced cycle campaigning over 30 years ago (as reported here). Cyclist.ie is the member for Ireland of the European Cyclists’ Federation and has engaged closely on European transport policy formation, through the ECF, for many years. Cyclist.ie is also a member of the Irish Environmental Network and The Wheel (Ireland’s national association of charities, community groups and social enterprises).    

Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland is part of the European Cyclists’ Federation’s Cycle-Friendly Employer Consortium. Its goal is to help employers create cycle-friendly workplaces for their team, increase cycling confidence nationwide and encourage behaviour change to support Ireland’s green transition.

CFE is part of Ireland’s Sustainable Mobility Action Plan. Participation in the CFE scheme helps to:

  • Decrease carbon emissions
  • Reduce transport costs
  • Lower employee absence and improve wellbeing
  • Demonstrate one’s commitment to the environment and sustainability
  • Attract and retain talent and customers

The collaboration between Cyclist.ie and CFEI will work to increase awareness amongst companies / organisations in Ireland of the CFE certification framework, and of the campaigning and advocacy work of Cyclist.ie which is helping to reshape transport policy and culture in Ireland. 

On the announcement of the alliance, Mairéad Forsythe, Chairperson of the Board of Cyclist.ie, said 

“We are at an extremely exciting time in the development of cycling in Ireland. Cycling advocacy plays an integral and important role in influencing how progressive transport policy is developed, and Cyclist.ie is leading the way in recasting transport policy at local and national levels. But companies and other organisations also have a crucial role in influencing how employees commute to work – so Cyclist.ie is delighted to team up with Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland and help to shape how companies think about the development of local transport plans and the provision of cycling friendly infrastructure.”   


Meanwhile, Michael O’Boyle, CEO of Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland, said

“Companies and other organisations are now recognising the multiple benefits of having a healthy workforce with more employees cycling to work. It reduces emissions and is cheaper for employers and employees, and improves health outcomes. CFEI helps employers to measure their current cycle-friendliness and implement effective, actionable strategies to help more employees to cycle to work. 

Our services include bike pool schemes, insurance, maintenance support and facilities consultation, as well as building community within and between cycle-friendly organisations.

Individual action can have a big impact and we are delighted to team up with Cyclist.ie to promote cycling throughout Ireland.”

All in all, the alliance between the two organisations is a positive move for cycling development in Ireland. Both organisations look forward to seeing – and to contributing to – the development of a strong cycling culture countrywide.

More information at:
https://cyclist.ie/
https://www.cyclefriendlyemployer.ie/

Dublin, International Posts

Cyclist.ie in Azambuja 2023!

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As many of our supporters will know, Cyclist.ie is part of a terrific European Commission funded Erasmus+ project with themes of climate action, cycling promotion, social inclusion and intergenerational relationships. The project involves connecting schools and non-profit cycling advocacy organisations from across Europe through carefully curated cultural exchange programmes. 

Following recent “Learning, Teaching and Training” (LTT) trips to Corella (in the North of Spain) and to Waterford, in this article we share our experiences from our recent trip to the town of Azambuja in Portugal. 

Cyclist.ie’s ambassadors on this trip were Úna Morrison and Phil Murray (Dublin Cycling Campaign), Rory Maguire (Navan Cycling Initiative), Eoghan O’Leary Fitzpatrick (Galway Cycling Campaign) and Cyclist.ie’s National Cycling Coordinator, Dr. Damien Ó Tuama. In this article Eoghan, Rory, Phil and Úna each share their reflections on one of the four days of the trip, with Damien adding some further insights at the end. 

Note that the featured image above shows Úna from Dublin Cycling Campaign / Cyclist.ie and Cristina from Biciclistas de Corella (and with the photo kindly provided by Biciclistas de C). 

L-R: Phil, Úna, Rory, Eoghan and Damien in Lisbon

Day #1 – Friday 13th October – Eoghan
Our journey began at the Secondary School in Azambuja, a meeting point for all participants in this Erasmus+ project. As we mingled and chatted in the school’s courtyard, we eventually made our way to the school’s hall.

Artwork depicting the countries involved in this Erasmus+ project

We all sat down in a circle in the hall, as one of the school’s English teachers welcomed us and introduced us to “Ubuntu,” a group within the school. Some of the students sported black t-shirts bearing the word Ubuntu alongside Nelson Mandela’s prisoner number. The teacher told us the meaning of the word Ubuntu and why it is important to her and her students. It literally translates to “I am because you are” but its greater meaning is that of connection and unity across humanity, and this was an important theme across our Erasmus+ project as we learned about our shared values across our different cultures and backgrounds. 

Principal of the school welcoming us all 

Following on from this, we began our icebreakers, starting with each participant sharing their name and a little about themselves. Icebreaker games, such as the “stand forward if” challenge, allowed us to see how much we had in common as relative strangers. We moved onto the “Colour Game” with coloured stickers on our foreheads, and we faced the challenge of forming groups based on colour (red, blue, orange, green, purple) without uttering a word – a slightly chaotic but fun exercise in communication beyond words. 

After the school introductions, we cycled through the town, making our way to the heart of Azambuja, the Town Hall. Here, we were greeted by the town’s Mayor, who extended a warm welcome. He shared stories about Azambuja, providing a brief background of its history and its place in Portuguese culture. 

Our adventure continued as we cycled to the Palácio das Obras Novas situated beside a channel of the Tagus River. We had our picnic here, followed by a few outdoor games like limbo. 

Rory and Phil making their way to the Palácio 

The highlight of the day awaited us — a mesmerizing boat tour of the Tagus River. Along the riverbanks, we had a chance encounter with wild horses, showcasing the region’s natural beauty. As the boat cruised through the water, we explored the area’s geological history with Annabelle, a Professor in Geology, which was both truly fascinating and informative. All topped off by a local song performed on the boat by one of the boat workers! All in all, it was a great kick off to what was to be an outstanding trip! 

Annabelle detailing the Tagus during the Ice Age 

Day #2 – Sat 14th October – Rory’s perspective
After landing into the centre of Lisbon, we climb the hills around Alafama and immerse ourselves in rich architecture from as far back as the 12th century. They have managed to squeeze tram tracks into very challenging nooks and crannies all over the city. Somehow brazen car drivers still make their way through hoards of people on the same tracks visibly annoying and slowing everyone as they pass. I’m not sure what would possess someone to drive through the heart of this narrow city, but there is a very tangible difference between the emotion of the tram users and the stressed drivers navigating this very challenging obstacle course. I bask in thoughts of what this beautiful place felt like before cars existed. The silver lining to old cities like these are that numerous hurdles have restricted people to owning much smaller, more humble cars which are more efficient and less dangerous than the SUVs currently dominating the car market. 

As we make our way up the steep cobbled hills towards the Castelo de St. Jorge, we pass musicians and artists seeking refuge in the shade between buildings which amplify their talent for the passers by. There is an incredible hum of music which beats its way up the city walls. It is surreal once we reach the castle which truly feels like the heart of Lisboa. 

Peacocks outside the Castelo de St. Jorge

The tall ancient cork oak, olive and stone pine trees provide a lush green canopy that protects us from the heavy sun, and everybody centres their conversations, relaxation and movement under the trees. This experience contrasts sharply with the car-filled (more tree-less) suburbs which can get cripplingly hot when the sun is out. Perhaps there will be time when the on street parking will need to be sacrificed to tackle the heat island effect which is increasingly noticeable as the summer droughts ease their way into mid October. 

The castle material itself contains incredible detail in each slab of stone. Telling the stories of the life and death of the many creatures fossilised inside. While touching these blocks I inadvertently take some of their story away with me on my fingertips. 

Finding bikes for 40+ people is not an easy task by any means. Just one of many incredible feats pulled off by Margarida and others involved in this Erasmus programme. A spin down the bank of the Tagus river provides many amazing sights such as the presidential palace, Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, and the Torre Belém. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult to navigate even some of the simpler routes of the city with 40 kids and a handful of adults; Something which really makes me appreciate the work done by the network of Cycle School Buses in Ireland. 

Making our way through the city

Passing under the Ponte 25 de Abril

The route along the Tagus is full of people. It always amazes me the interactions between pedestrians and cyclists. The fluidity and freedom to choose the direction of movement provides for a more relaxed environment with play, relaxation and wonderful food all around. At one of the many parks along the river we stop to enjoy a box of pastéis de nata. They don’t last long as everybody seems to be obsessed with them here. It’s so sweet to see the proud culture here of eating delicacies made by skilled local artisans rather than your standard mars bars and kitkats in corner shops. I learned that the culture of desserts here is based on egg yolks which were a by-product from monasteries using egg whites to starch clothes. 

Pasteis de Nata or pasteis de Belém

The day finishes at a beautiful restaurant named Tasca da Ilda in Azambuja. I love how casual the staff in such a fine place are with us. A small thing which I think mirrors the relaxed and inviting culture we experienced throughout the trip. It was also nice to see the level of vegetarian cuisine being served not just in Lisbon but in small towns like Azambuja. 

The highlight of the day for me was seeing hundreds of young people wheelying their bikes down the colourful Lisbon coastline. It gave me hope to see the rebellious nature of these kids reclaiming their city from cars in such a playful way. Bikes for them aren’t just a form of transport, but a way of life.

Wheelies in Belém

More wheelies in Belém

Day #3 – Sun 15th October – Phil’s reflections
Taking our complimentary bikes our first port of call was the local secondary school, and from here we were taken by coach to a nature reserve, Paul de Manique, a 30 minute drive north-east of Azambuja. This bio-diverse lake and wetland has a total area of 18 hectares with a bird hide for spotting the 183 species of birds and 44 species of dragonfly amongst the abundance of wildlife found there.  

We had two guides – Annabelle who gave us great insights into the geology of the area with her many soil and gravel samples as well as a 3m long core sample of the lake bed; and Paulo who is the main guide for the reserve and a fountain of knowledge of the area and its rich biodiversity. 

Annabelle, Rory and Paulo in the dried lake bed

Paulo, described by one of our group as Portugal’s David Attenborough, gave us a fantastic insight into the rich wildlife of the wetland, despite the lake being totally dried up and the season’s first proper rain in months only starting to fall. We were reassured that it would take just two days of rain to fill the lake, and that only just below the crusty dry bed, life was still thriving in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Going by the heavy rain that fell about an hour after our tour, the lake was already beginning its annual transformation which made the timing of our visit all the more special. 

Following a quick visit to a local church, which was once a Palace, we headed back to the school in Azambuja for lunch in the canteen. A fine meal was had, prepared by the ladies who ran the school’s well-equipped kitchen. At the school many activities were laid on with an opportunity for the students to get to know each other better, share their experiences and present the work they had been doing back home on raising awareness of climate change resilience in their communities.

Dinner at 8pm took place in the private home of the Deputy Mayor of Azambuja, albeit in a private clubhouse as part of the host’s residence. This big room with double height ceiling, three large tables with bench seating and every inch of wall space covered in bull-fighting paraphernalia was the kind of place only locals get to see. It was also a space where the famous Portuguese traditional music of Fado was performed.

Dinner with the staff of Azambuja Secondary School and the other Erasmus+ Partners – Photo credit: Biciclistas de Corella 

Performing three songs each, our Fado singers, one male, one female and accompanied by two acoustic stringed instruments played by two men captivated us all with theatrically performed songs, sung with intense passion. 

It was easily one of the cultural highlights of the trip and reaffirmed the connection that is universally made when humans come together to eat, drink, share stories and sing those stories passed down through generations.

Day 4 – Mon 16th Oct – Úna’s Reflections
Monday was our final day of the trip and the core of the day was to see more of the culture and nature beyond Azambuja. Our first stop was Praia da Bafureira, Bafureira Beach, which is on the outskirts of Lisbon towards Cascais. This area is a Marine Protected Area which prohibits further development and fishing. 

We spilt into groups with two pages of marine organisms to identify, including shellfish, seaweed and fish. I joined a group of four Polish students, which was great fun. Some of them had never seen the Atlantic Ocean before and were very unfamiliar with rock pooling. We all really enjoyed the natural treasure hunt and taking time to move slowly in the hunt for our various organisms. 

From Bafureira, we moved on to Cabos da Roca, the most westerly point of continental Europe for a quick pit stop. We had an impromptu picnic and enjoyed the windy surroundings.  


Úna and Damien on the edge of Continental Europe

Our destination for the afternoon was Sintra, a world famous town in the hills north west of Lisbon. As we travelled there, we noted that the landscape changed, with more lush vegetation, clouds and mist, along with winding roads. We walked towards the Park and Palace of Monserrate, which had a fascinating history. Since 1540 when the estate was founded, there was a succession of different owners, developments and abandonments. The British writers Lord Bryon and William Beckford were amongst the residents there. The palace that currently stands was commissioned by Francis Cook, a British trader and art collector, and it combines Gothic and Indian influences with Moresque accents. Together with the incredible gardens, featuring species from around the world, I found it an inspiring and magical place.

Rory, Eoghan and Úna – Rehydrating en route to the palace! 

The valley of ferns was a highlight for me, together with the natural inspired interior architecture – both pictured below.

After walking back from the palace, we spent a very welcome break in Sintra, to explore the shops, sample the ice cream (I had a yoghurt and fig ice cream that was incredible) and enjoy the bustling town.

We returned to Azambuja for our final dinner in the school where we were joined by the principal and had the opportunity to sample some traditional chocolate cake, baked by the mother of one of the students. It was delicious, and an example of how this trip gave us the opportunity to really connect with the people of Azambuja. The students had a quiz and a sing-song and we all received our certificates of participation. And Eoghan from our group played a traditional tune on his feadóg stáin (below). It was an enjoyable end to a hectic but fulfilling trip to Portugal.



For me, the most valuable part of the trip was the chance to talk to and get to know people from other countries. I really enjoyed, for example, talking to Asia, one of the teachers from Poland about their upcoming general election and understanding her point of view. This will give me further depth of understanding when I read or hear about these types of things in the news in the future. I also really enjoyed seeing and exploring parts of the Portuguese landscape that I simply would walk, cycle or drive by if I was a tourist – such as the rewilded wetland and the marine protection area in Bafureira. 

Final Reflections – Damien
The third “Learning, Teaching and Training” trip of this Erasmus+ project was another rich, sociable and multi-dimensional experience for our participants. It allowed us to forge stronger relationships with the other partners and learn more about each others’ cultures and customs.  

It was also valuable to spend quality time with newer members of Cyclist.ie’s own expanding network of volunteers – and I want to pay a special thanks to Úna, Phil, Eoghan and Rory for their great contributions throughout the trip and for representing Cyclist.ie so well on the international stage!  

L-R: Eoghan, Rory, Damien, Úna and Phil

I also want to sincerely thank Margarida Pato from Azambuja High School for organising the full programme, and supported by her colleagues Paula, Edmundo, José and the other staff members. In fact, the programme was so full that we didn’t, unfortunately, as originally planned get to meet up in Lisbon with our cycle campaigning colleagues in MUBi (Associação pela Mobilidade Urbana em Bicicleta), a member group themselves of the European Cyclists’ Federation. Next time! 

And thanks, as always, to our Project Coordinator Supremo, Toño Peña, from IES Alhama School in Corella for his ongoing support and unquenchable positive energy! 

Finally, you can read more about the project on its official website here – https://www.erasmuscyclingschools.com/ – and you can see more photos from the trip on the Facebook pages of Biciclistas de Corella.  

Dublin, EU Posts, Irish Posts

Cyclist.ie Gathering and DCC 30th Birthday Weekend

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Last weekend cycling campaigners from Cyclist.ie groups / branches across the country descended on Dublin to re-energise each other ahead of what we expect will be a busy next 12-18 months of campaigning. 

The Tailors’ Hall Gathering (Saturday 30th Sept)
Representatives from many of our 35 groups landed into the lovely Tailors’ Hall (An Taisce’s HQ) for a day of debating our campaigning priorities for 2024. We were delighted to have two representatives (Clare and Keelan) there from the newest local group, Gorey Pedestrian and Cycling Association – and with other delegates having traveled from as far away as Skibbereen, Sligo and Gort. And we were even more delighted that Mná na h-Éireann were out in force, with slightly more women attending the meeting than men – and even more women attending the cycle on the Sunday (see below).    

The Gathering was especially important since our network of groups had not met since before the pandemic – and there is nothing like meeting in person to have proper debates with one’s peers.  

Cyclist.ie Chairperson Neasa Bheilbigh setting the scene for the day – Photo credit: Dave Tobin

To start the day off, we were treated to ten short talks show-casing successful campaigns and initiatives at a local level. These included talks on:  

  • School streets in Galway [Reg Turner, Chair of Galway Cycling Campaign]
  • Community garden cycles, Miren Maialen [Dublin Cycling Campaign]
  • Biodiversity themed pedal parades – see poster below [Claire Anne Tobin]
  • Limerick’s e-Bike scheme [Dave Tobin, Limerick Cycling Campaign]
  • The Salthill cycleway [Kevin Jennings, Galway Cycling Campaign]
  • Rural Collective / Rural Vision [Jo Sachs Eldridge, Leitrim Cycling Festival]
  • Cycling campaigning in County Meath / Navan [Dave Anderson, Navan Cycling Initiative]
  • Building alliances with health professionals [David Timoney]
  • Campaigning experiences in Skerries [Michael McKenna, Skerries Cycling Initiative]
  • Cycling Without Age successes [Clara Clark, Cycling Without Age]
  • Love 30, latest news on speed limit reductions [Muireann O’Dea, Love 30]
  • Cycle training and cycle campaigning [Ruth Bullough, Cycle Sense, Skibbereen]

Jo Sachs Eldridge (Cyclist.ie Executive Committee) speaking about the emergence of the Rural Collective Group – Photo credit: Dave Tobin

Claire Anne Tobin and Conor Cahill’s Pedal Party Parade poster as displayed on the day – see also https://www.instagram.com/pedalpartyparade/ 

There then followed two engaging sessions – one, gathering our thoughts ahead of the 2024 Local Elections; and the second, exploring the nature of crises and what it means for an advocacy body to be ‘crisis-fit’. 

Ger O’Halloran (Dublin Cycling Campaign) reporting back on the breakout session – Photo credit: Damien Ó Tuama 

All in all, there were some rich discussions and learnings from the event which we are now digesting, and which the Executive Committee will analyse in more depth over the coming weeks. 

How many Brompton bikes can you store in a historic fireplace? Photo credit: Siobhán McNamara

Dublin Cycling Campaign’s 30th Birthday (Saturday 30th Sept)
The timing of our Gathering was chosen so as to synchronise with Dublin Cycling Campaign’s big 30th Birthday celebrations. As explained in the press release issued ahead of the party, Dublin Cycling Campaign “emerged in 1993 in response to the systematic omission from official transport thinking of cycling as an essential part of the urban transport system. Cycling, and indeed walking, had essentially been cut out of all of the ‘serious’ transport strategies and investment programmes for several decades”. 

The party brought together members and friends of the Campaign going back in time – and we were fortunate enough to have some gorgeous black and white photos from the 1990s taken by Photographer Jim Berkeley on display for the day – many thanks Jim! Additionally, seven of DCC’s 13 Chairpersons over its three decade span came along, and elected politicians from an array of parties at Council, Dáil Éireann and European Parliament levels popped in over the course of the evening to mark the occasion. 

A huge thanks to DJ 25Seán who played some fine dancey tunes upstairs in the hall – the perfect way to unwind after a day of meetings! 

DJ 25Seán mixing it up for the guests – Photo credit: Miren Maialen 

Excitement all round at the party! – Photo credit: Will Andrews

Dodder Cycleway Spin (Sunday 1st October)
To top the weekend off and wipe the cobwebs away on Sunday morning, Mairéad Forsythe from Dublin Cycling Campaign led a lovely spin along the Dodder Greenway from Rathfarnham to Kiltipper Park where all the gang enjoyed a picnic – as per the photos below. 

Rendezvous point #1 at the Grand Canal: Photo credit: Katleen Bell Bonjean

The Cyclist.ie / Dublin Cycling Campaign gang at Balrothery weir on the Dodder Cycleway – Photo credit: Katleen Bell Bonjean.

Mary Sinnott and Katleen Bell Bonjean from Cyclist.ie’s Executive Committee enjoying the picnic – Photo credit: Katleen Bell Bonjean.

Anne Nospickel and Snoobles taking a break in Kiltipper Park – Photo credit: Katleen Bell Bonjean

Cyclist.ie wishes to thank all of the organisers for their work in making the weekend happen – and all of the delegates and party people for contributing to the events. We also thank An Taisce, The Tailors’ Hall Tavern, and The Right Catering Company for the venue and the fine food served on the Saturday. 

We look forward to the next Cyclist.ie in-person gathering which, we hope, will be west of the Shannon in Spring 2024! 

Damien Ó Tuama
03 October 2023

Note: featured image at the top of this page taken by Jessica from The Right Catering Company