Bikeweek 2026

Bikeweek runs from 9th-17th May. Maynooth Cycling Campaign has organised three public events

• A 4km cycle to Derrybeg Farm followed by a tour of the farm on 9th May
• A 6.2km family cycle to Kilcock along the Royal Canal Greenway, and
• Trishaw rides from Courthouse Square on Saturday 9th and 16th May.

Full details are available on the bikeweek.ie website.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign has also engaged with Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth Educate Together, Scoil Ruairí and Presentation Girls School with proposals for an art competition on the theme of Bikeweek. We have also offered to give a number of talks to Maynooth Post Primary and Maynooth Community College.

Grand Canal Greenway at Hazelhatch

South Dublin County Council was responsible for upgrading the Grand Canal between the 12th Lock and Hazelhatch. This was the missing link on the Grand Canal between Dublin and Kildare. Unfortunately, South Dublin’s ambition did not extend the full distance to the R405 at Hazelhatch. They stopped about 100m short where the McEvoy’s Pub has taken over the towpath with tables and chairs. 

This section is dependent on the provision of a new bridge to bring cyclists to the other side of the canal but no funding has been provided for the bridge and no indication that it might be provided in either  the short or the medium term. Instead, the provision of a kissing gate forces cyclists to dismount and walk with their bike. South Dublin didn’t have to do this. They could have brought the path down to the car park which would allow both able bodied and disabled cyclists to bypass the contentious section of towpath. A poor decision by South Dublin Council..

Kildare County Council & the Long Road to Climate Targets

Maynooth Cycling Campaign recently published an article on the Long Road to Climate Targets. It deals with Kildare County Council’s response to submissions by Maynooth Cycling Campaign on the County Development Plan. Local authorities are supposed to welcome public consultation. The least that we should expect is that the council gives due diligence to assessing the points raised.

Link Road Celbridge

Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes the opening of the Straffan Road/Celebridge Road Link. Unfortunately the surface of the cycle track in the vicinity of Griffin Rath Manor and Griffin Rath Hall has deteriorated so much that it is a danger to cyclists. Kildare County Council has removed the trees which have damaged the cycle track over the last twenty years but they do not propose to  repair the surface until later in the year. The Council could have repaired the surface at any time over recent years but didn’t.  

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Transport as well as Climate, recently stated on radio that Ireland is expected to miss its legally binding target of a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. The impact of Ireland’s fossil fuel dependency is clear from events in the Middle East and the increase in the cost of fuel. The lessons should be to reduce fossil fuel use as much as possible.

Celbridge Road Part 8 Public Consultation

At a recent meeting of the Maynooth Community Council,  Clr  Phelan informed the meeting that the Celbridge Road upgrade scheme which included the provision of improved walking and cycling facilities would proceed to Part 8 Publication in June.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an independent local lobby group for better cycling facilities in
Maynooth and Kildare generally. If you would like to support our efforts, we welcome new
members. Why not join us – you can find details here.