Gillian McDarby Joins Cycling Ireland Board of Directors

Cycling Ireland are delighted to announce the appointment of Gillian McDarby, to the Cycling Ireland Board of Directors. She will replace Liam Twomey, who recently stepped down. The accomplished coach, neuromuscular physio therapist and former international cyclist is also qualified in Business Management and Strategy and Innovation, and was the IRFU National Team Women’s Program Manager from 2013 to 2016.

  
As a racer, McDarby competed for Ireland at the World B Championships, and held National Titles in the 200m Sprint and 500m Time Trial on the track. She also regularly featured in the top ten at Rás na mBan (and the TQ Papers), with an overall 5^th place.

President of Cycling Ireland, Ciaran McKenna welcomes the appointment saying: “Gillian brings a vast amount of experience to the organisation, both from her personal cycling, coaching and IRFU experiences and from her professional life. The Board will benefit from her insights, and we look forward to working with Gillian.”

Speaking about her appointment, Dublin based McDarby said: “I was honoured to be asked to join the Board of Cycling Ireland, and I am really looking forward to working with all involved.”

  
Administratively the qualified Cycling Ireland Level 1 Road & TT Coach, and Coaching Ireland Tutor held the post of Women’s National Development Coach from 2011 to 2013, and has coached riders to World Championship and World Cup success. Nominated in 2012 for the ‘Cycling Ireland Volunteer of the Year’ award, McDarby has also managed Irish National Teams at the European Championships and Rás na mBan.

The area of coaching is of keen interest to McDarby: “My true passion is coaching and ensuring that we develop the relevant pathways and foundation to ensure the growth of the sport, and I am also keenly interested in working with youths, as I firmly believe that we need to ensure that the youth enjoy the sport and have fun. It’s not just about competing and winning, but about athlete retention.”

McDarby notes: “Whilst my role within the Board will cover many responsibilities and not gender specific, I do feel it is important to have a female voice, and I hope that my skillset will add value.”

The Board of Cycling Ireland consists of eight directors. In the coming months two further positions will be added, following the amendment at the AGM 2016 of the Memorandums and Articles, to increase the number of the Board of Directors to ten.