Bringing Accessible Cycling to the Heart of Donegal

Craoibhín Community Centre, County Donegal has become a hub of inclusion, health, and community spirit after Variety Ireland officially launched our new Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence. The initiative, in partnership and collaboration with the HSE, The Department of Transport and The Department of Children, Disability and Equity and Donegal County Council, marks another important step in ensuring that children, young people, and adults of all abilities have the opportunity to experience the freedom, enjoyment, and health benefits of cycling in a safe and welcoming environment.

The new Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence will be operated by an amazing organisation called GrassRoutes, at the Craoibhín Community Centre. They provide supervised cycling and training for people with and without non-additional needs.

The hub will feature a dedicated cycling track together with a carefully selected fleet of special mobility trikes and adapted cycles, designed to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairments, and those who require additional support to cycle independently or with assistance.

The launch represented a significant investment in inclusive recreation by Variety Ireland, Donegal County Council, the HSE, The Department of Transport and The Department of Children, Disability and Equity that demonstrates their ongoing commitment to removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in community life.

For many people, riding a bicycle is something taken for granted. However, for individuals with mobility challenges or additional needs, access to suitable equipment has often been limited. The Variety Ireland Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence aims to change that by providing specialised cycles that offer comfort, stability, confidence, and independence.

The fleet includes a range of adaptive mobility trikes suitable for different ages and abilities. These cycles have been selected to accommodate varying physical and cognitive needs, ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy cycling regardless of their level of ability.

The dedicated cycling track at Craoibhín Community Centre provides a safe and controlled environment where users can develop confidence, improve cycling skills, and simply enjoy being active without the challenges presented by busy roads or uneven terrain.

Cycling offers a wide range of physical, emotional, and social benefits. Regular cycling helps improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility. For many individuals with disabilities, adaptive cycling also contributes to improved posture, mobility, and overall wellbeing.

Beyond the physical benefits, cycling supports mental health by reducing stress, increasing confidence, and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation. It also creates valuable social opportunities, bringing together families, carers, volunteers, schools, and community groups in an inclusive setting where everyone can participate together.

The Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence has been designed to serve the wider Donegal community. Schools, disability organisations, family support groups, healthcare professionals, and local clubs will all be encouraged to use the facilities, helping to ensure that adaptive cycling becomes more widely available throughout the county.

HSE West & North West, which includes the Donegal Integrated Community Healtthcare Area, welcomes Variety Ireland’s launch of the third of seven Cycling Inclusion Hubs in the county of Donegal. The HSE acknowledges with thanks the investment and work that has gone into developing Cycling Inclusion Hubs and bringing one such hub to Donegal. The Cycling Inclusion Hubs demonstrate the importance of partnership and collaboration in delivering such initiatives and tribute must be paid to Variety Ireland, HSE, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Transport, Donegal County Council, GrassRoutes and Craoibhín Community Centre in delivering the hub.

Physical activity, like cycling, provides so many benefits to all people – physical, emotional, social and mental health benefits. For some people having the opportunity to access and try out physical activities that most people take for granted is a significant challenge with many hurdles to overcome. Cycling can be one such activity, but through the Cycling Inclusion Hub many of those hurdles can be removed and the opportunity provided. Any person, child or adult, who needs support to experience cycling can avail of the Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence, which offers a range of special mobility trikes and adapted cycles in addition to a dedicated, safe and controlled cycling track to use the trikes and cycles at the Craoibhín Community Centre. People in rural Ireland are often required to travel outside of their county for opportunities such as this so having this opportunity available and accessible to the people of Donegal in the county of Donegal is so very welcome.

Regional Disability Lead for HSE West and North West, Edel Quinn stated

“My sincere thanks to Variety Ireland and the supporting departments and organisation for bringing the Cycling Inclusion hub to Donegal. In 2024 the HSE and Department of Health launched the National Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Ireland, bringing Ireland in line with the World Health Organisations (WHO) recommendations on physical activity. The guidelines encourage people of all ages around the country to prioritise their health and wellbeing by increasing their levels of physical activity.  The more time spent being physically active, the greater the health benefits and even relatively small increases in moderate level physical activity can contribute to improved health and quality of life. The Cycling Inclusion Hub will support increased physical activity levels for people in Donegal, who because of physical, cognitive or sensory needs, may find their options to participate in physical activity restricted.”

Dermot Monaghan, HSE Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Donegal, commenting on the launch of the Cycling Inclusion Hub in Donegal, said that

“this is a fantastic opportunity to support children and adults with disabilities within the county of Donegal to participate in cycling, an activity that so many of us have enjoyed from early childhood and into our adult lives. I am delighted that people in the Donegal Integrated Healthcare Area will get to experience the joys and thrill of cycling in a supportive, inclusive community space, which will support their well-being and independence. My sincere thanks to all those who have made this possible for the people of Donegal.”

The project also reflects the growing recognition that inclusive facilities benefit entire communities. By creating spaces where everyone is welcome, regardless of ability, communities become stronger, more connected, and more understanding of the diverse needs of their members.

Variety Ireland has a long history of supporting children and individuals living with disabilities through practical initiatives that improve quality of life. The organisation in partnership with the HSE, The Department of Transport and The Department of Children, Disability and Equity along with other county councils around the country has funded adapted bikes, mobility equipment, sensory facilities, playgrounds, and other projects across Ireland that enable greater independence and inclusion.

The launch of the Donegal Cycling Inclusion Hub builds on this legacy by creating a sustainable resource that will continue serving the community for many years. Rather than providing support to individual users alone, the hub creates a shared facility where equipment can be accessed by many families and organisations, maximising the benefit of the investment.

The Craoibhín Community Centre has become an ideal location for the project due to its strong community focus and commitment to inclusion. The centre already plays an important role in bringing local people together through sport, recreation, education, and community activities.

The addition of the new Cycling Inclusion Hub further strengthens its role as an accessible community resource where people of all ages and abilities can participate in meaningful activities.

The official launch attracted local families, community representatives, disability advocates, volunteers, healthcare professionals, public representatives, and supporters of Variety Ireland. Guests had the opportunity to see the adaptive cycles first-hand, learn about the different types of specialist equipment available, and witness demonstrations of how the trikes can be used safely and effectively.

Visitors also heard about the vision behind the project and the positive impact adaptive cycling can have on individuals and families throughout Donegal.

Parents and carers often speak about the challenges of finding recreational activities that are genuinely accessible for children with additional needs. The Cycling Inclusion Hub seeks to remove many of these barriers by providing appropriate equipment, a safe environment, and an atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to participate without judgement.

For many users, this may represent their first opportunity to experience the simple joy of cycling independently. That first ride can be transformational, building confidence that extends far beyond the cycling track itself.

Community volunteers will play an important role in supporting the ongoing operation of the hub, helping users become familiar with the equipment and ensuring that everyone enjoys a positive and safe experience. Their contribution reflects the community spirit that underpins the entire project.

The launch also highlights the importance of partnerships between charities, community organisations, volunteers, supporters, and local stakeholders who share a common goal of creating more inclusive communities.

As awareness of adaptive cycling continues to grow across Ireland, projects such as the Variety Ireland’s Recycle Mobility Programme and Cycling Inclusion Centres of Excellence demonstrate what can be achieved when accessibility is placed at the centre of community planning.

The new facility represents far more than a cycling track and a collection of specialist trikes. It is a place where barriers are removed, confidence is built, friendships are formed, and opportunities are created for people who may previously have been excluded from cycling activities.