Ciaran Cannon named Chairperson of Cycling Ireland’s Advocacy Working Group

Ciaran Cannon prioritises road safety as he assumes position of Chairperson of Cycling Ireland’s Advocacy Working Group.

Cycling Ireland is pleased to announce that Ciaran Cannon is assuming the role of Chairperson of Cycling Ireland’s Advocacy Work Group, spearheading initiatives to improve road safety for cyclists in Ireland. 

The primary aim of the group is to make our roads safer for our members and for cyclists in general. Advocating to highlight and promote road safety was incorporated into Cycling Ireland’s new Strategic Plan, published in December 2024.

Cannon is a former Minister for State and was a TD until his retirement from politics in November 2024. He is also a long-time member of Cycling Ireland and a strong advocate of improved road safety for cyclists.

Commenting on his acceptance of this role, the President of Cycling Ireland, Tom Daly, said:

“I am very happy that Ciaran Cannon has taken on this responsibility given the current situation on the roads and the fact that advocating for road safety was formally included in our Strategic Plan which was published last December. His passion for the development of cycling – evidenced by his instigation of an appearance by Cycling Ireland before an Oireachtas Sub-Committee in 2022 in the interests of transparency and accountability – along with his passion for road safety and his experience as a public representative, make him ideally suited to the role. I wish to thank him for taking on the responsibility. I also wish to thank Anluan Dunne, former Chair of the Working Group, for his tremendous work in helping set up the Working Group and drafting its Terms of Reference and a subsequent Advocacy Policy – both of which were adopted by the Board.”     

The CEO of Cycling Ireland, James Quilligan, added:

“I greatly welcome this development in the Advocacy Working Group as this body will have an important role in advising the executive on our new role, established in our new Strategic Plan, in advocating for road safety. We look forward to working with everyone on the Working Group and doing our best for members in this vital area.” 

Ciaran Cannon commented: 

“I’m delighted to take up this role with Cycling Ireland. We are an organisation with over 26,000 members across the island of Ireland. It’s a very diverse group ranging from international athletes to people who enjoy riding their bikes for leisure, and all of us deserve to feel safe on our roads. That’s why our recently published Strategic Plan has, for the first time, a particular focus on road safety advocacy. Our members want to see and hear Cycling Ireland working alongside other advocacy groups in amplifying our collective call for safer roads and better cycling infrastructure. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Working Group, and building on the superb work of my predecessor, Anluan Dunne.”