Louth leads the way with new inclusive cycling centre for people with disabilities

A major new disability and inclusion initiative was officially launched at Dundalk Sports Centre this morning as Variety – the Children's Charity of Ireland, together with Louth Disability Cycling Club (LDCC), officially opened the Variety Ireland Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence.

The launch represents years of determination by volunteers, families and community organisations who believed that everyone, regardless of ability, deserves the chance to experience the joy, independence and confidence that cycling brings.

Located at the Tom Bellew Avenue sports complex, the facility will offer a place where people of all ages and abilities can learn to cycle together in a safe environment. Louth Disability Cycling Club’s fleet includes hand bikes, tandem cycles, side-by-side bikes and specialist adaptive trikes designed for riders with a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities.

Louth Disability Cycling Club was only established in January 2024, founded by Paul Callan, Mark Duffy and former competitive cyclist Gary Sheils, with the ambition of ensuring that disability would never again be a barrier to enjoying cycling in County Louth.

What began with a handful of adapted bicycles and an enthusiastic volunteer team quickly gathered momentum.

Throughout its very first summer, the club welcomed between 15 and 20 participants every week, including children with additional needs and adult wheelchair users. A team of volunteers now give up their time to help riders experience cycling in a safe, supportive environment.

Support from Louth Local Sports Partnership, Louth County Council, Variety Ireland, the HSE, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, and the Department of Transport has steadily expanded both its fleet and its reach.

The club has also become part of Variety Ireland's All-Ireland Disability Cycling Partnership, bringing together disability cycling groups from both sides of the border to encourage inclusion and community through shared cycling events.

While Dundalk Sports Centre now provides LDCC with a base, the club's work extends far beyond it. Volunteers regularly bring their fleet of adaptive bicycles and trikes into the heart of the community, visiting schools, GAA clubs, care homes and community organisations across County Louth.

These outreach sessions give children with additional needs, older people and those with reduced mobility the opportunity to experience cycling in familiar surroundings, often for the first time in years.

By taking inclusive cycling directly to local communities, LDCC has removed many of the barriers that can prevent people from participating, ensuring that the benefits of exercise, independence and social connection are available to as many people as possible.

Kevin O’Brien of Variety Ireland spoke about how the project has been a long time in the making and the difference it will make to people and children in Louth with disabilities.

“There are so many people who give up their evenings, their weekends and their mornings to make sure people with additional needs have access to cycling,” he said.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. One of the happiest and saddest days of my life was about three years ago when I got a phone call from Paul Callan, who was looking for assistance, and anyone who knows Paul knows it’s very hard to say no to him.

“But then again, on the same hand, Paul is a person who doesn’t know how to say no to anyone either and will never see anyone stuck, and I think that’s a representation of all the people here today.

“It’s a great pleasure to be here today. This has been in the making for a year and a half, where we at Variety have put our minds to helping kids with mobility issues. We’re great in this country at speaking about what we should be doing about equality, but I think that what we’re doing here today actually proves that and shows that no matter who you are and what you do, if you’ve got an additional need or a mobility issue, along with our partners in the HSE, the Department of Children and the Department of Transport, we’ve invested in a selection of bikes that will suit most kids' and most adults' needs as well. So it gives them equal access to cycling.”

He also thanked Louth County Council for their help and engagement in realising the project.

“This is actually the best centre we have seen so far for people to have access to cycling.”

Paul Callan of Louth Disability Cycling Club spoke of the long journey the club has been on over the last couple of years to see the project realised.

“Our main aim is that, when we see parents here today with their kids and see them smiling, that is what this amazing group of people here are about.

“When we go down to the park, when we go to the Square, when we go to different schools and nursing homes, no matter how bad a day we’re having, we go home different people and with new energy.

“I’d like to refer to our club Chairman, Gary Sheils, and all the work he has done in setting up the club. What that man did to put us all together is an absolute credit. We were very lucky in a lot of things that happened when we were starting off, especially in meeting Kevin O’Brien (from Variety).

“It’s fantastic to have the fleet of bikes and the facility here where we can open up and go around this beautiful wee area here and cycle and, again, put more smiles on faces.”

He also paid tribute to local Independent councillor Maeve Yore for her work and support in the early days of setting up the club.

“There have been so many people in County Louth who have helped us: businesspeople, local GAA clubs, local community clubs and cycling clubs, including Cuchulainn Cycling Club.”

He also paid special thanks to local man Conor Duffy for a special fundraising event held in November at Dundalk Stadium, which raised vital funds for the club.

Chief Executive of Louth County Council David Conway spoke of the council's collaboration with Variety Ireland and Louth Disability Cycling Club and about how he hopes to see Louth become a leader in disability inclusion.

“It is fantastic to be here today to see what can be done when we look outside the box in terms of inclusivity.

“This is only a step in my book in terms of what we’re doing. I’m delighted to hear that we’re best in class because, since I’ve come to Louth, I want to make sure that Louth does things first and that we become a benchmark throughout Ireland and, on occasions, in Europe to show what can be done with that thought process.

“I’m delighted to say that in a few weeks' time we’ll have our fantastic synthetic track up above. Again, that will add another dimension to what the people and community of Louth can actually do.

“Louth County Council is delighted to be associated with this initiative. It’s a valuable service to people with disabilities within the community, their families and the wider community.

“By improving access to cycling and bringing opportunities directly into the community, this project will promote inclusiveness, health, wellbeing and social connections across Louth.

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“I would like to pay particular tribute to Louth Disability Cycling Club and, of course, the driving force behind it, Variety Ireland, for their extraordinary work, their commitment and support, but also their knowledge and foresight.”

Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council Cllr Dolores Minogue thanked all those involved for their efforts, adding:

“Louth County Council is proud to support the launch of the Louth Disability Cycling Hub Inclusive Mobile Cycling Unit, an initiative that reflects our commitment to building inclusive, healthy and connected communities.

“The new hub at Muirhevnamor will provide people with disabilities and mobility challenges with better opportunities to enjoy the benefits of cycling in a safe and welcoming environment. The mobile unit will bring these opportunities to communities across County Louth and beyond.”

Thanking all those who made the project a success, she concluded:

“Their collaboration has created a valuable resource that will enhance inclusion, wellbeing and community participation across County Louth.”