“To increase participation of women in sport and to raise the overall physical activity levels among women” – this is the overarching objective of the Women in Sport initiative set up by Sport Ireland.

 

Last year Cycling Ireland received funding under this initiative to coordinate and support cycling activity across the country. Over 350 women and girls took part in various programmes ranging from 4 to 8 weeks across road, leisure and MTB. As well as many participants taking part in structured cycling activity for the first time, the programmes also saw a return to cycling for many who had not been on a bike for years. The courses were based on Cycling Ireland’s programmes including Bike for Life and Gearing Up Off Road.



            

 

One of the aims of the initiative is also to encourage and assist more women to take on leadership and coaching roles. Several of our leaders had never run programmes like this before and all said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience with several now continuing on to attend further coaching courses.

Initiatives like this would not be possible without the many clubs, leaders and other organisations involved all around the country so a massive thank you must go out to all of them.

Those who took part include:

· Waterford Sports Partnership

· Bray Wheelers Wicklow led by Colin Short

· Clare Sports Partnership

· Tipperary Sports Partnership

· Sligo Sports Partnership

· Wild Atlantic Sports, Cork

· Evolution Bikes Ennis led by Alan Quigley

· Armagh Craigavon Banbridge Council led by Peter McAtasney and James Moore

· Cork Sports Partnership

· Meath Sports Partnership

· Bush Cycling Club Kildare led by Richard Fleming

· Trim Cycling Club led by Susan Murphy

· Emyvale CC from Monaghan led by Lorraine Mullarkey

· Ballyhoura Development Ltd led by Mike Noonan

· Foyle Cycling Club in Derry led by Mark Moroney

· Silvia Gallagher (Gravity BC) Ticknock MTB Trails

· Titanic Quarter Cycling Club, Belfast led Brian McCarter

· Western Lakes Cycling Club, Galway led by Sinead Waters

· Cuchulainn Cycling Club, Louth led by Philip Kerley

· HEART Project Belfast led by Siobhan Skates

· Galway Bay Cycling Club led by Isbeal Nic Aoidh

· Bray and North Wicklow Youthreach led by Grainne Burke

· Michelle Muldoon Ticknock MTB Trails

· Far and Wild, Derry

· Cycling Ireland Womens Commission
     
 


Cycling Ireland have received further funding for 2017 and plan to run a number of events and courses throughout the year. For updates and news find us on Facebook at Cycling Ireland Programmes.