Events
This year’s charity is the Gavin Glynn Foundation
The Gavin Glynn Foundation is delighted to partner with the Galway cycle for 2026. “We are really looking forward to getting as many people on
December 12, 2025
Now in it’s 39th year, this year’s Galway Cycle takes place on the 10th of April 2026. The cycle raises much needed funds for a different children’s charity each year.
Cyclists take on the challenge of cycling from Maynooth to Galway – and back, a distance of nearly 400km!
A huge amount of support is provided, including organised graded training every weekend from January. The cycle is supported by an experienced team of marshals, mechanics, out-riders, medical staff, food, safety officers, support vehicles and much more.
There are a multitude of ways to get involved with the Galway Cycle for 2026, ranging from cycling the event, coming along as a collector, or simply supporting any of our fundraising events.
Have the cycling weekend of your life, have the craic, make new friends and support a worth cause!
Welcome! We’re delighted you’re thinking of joining the Galway Cycle. We’re all about Charity, Cycling and Craic! Below is everything you need to know about joining, training, and rocking the weekend.
Absolutely! This event is open to everyone, and we pride ourselves on being cycling beginner-friendly. If you want to join up, the best first step is to email us at training@galwaycycle.ie. We can then give you instructions on how to join the CYQL app, where you’ll find all the necessary information.
Registration costs €70, plus handling fees, which acts as a deposit to cover initial weekend expenses.
The minimum fundraising targets are:
Yes, insurance is mandatory for training and the event. For insurance purposes, every cyclist must hold a Leisure or Competition license with Cycling Ireland. Please note that a Cycling Support License is not adequate. You must be licensed with Cycling Ireland prior to cycling with the Galway Cycle. Log into www.cyclingireland.ie to purchase your insurance now!
New cyclists who do not have Cycling Ireland membership are welcome for the first three weeks. During this time, insurance will be provided if you register for each spin on the Cyql app. From week four onwards, proof of Cycling Ireland membership will be mandatory.
Yes! It only takes a few minutes to get the insurance online directly through www.cyclingireland.ie. It doesn’t matter what club or province you are associated with (e.g., Munster or Leinster), as long as you have the CI membership, just remember to bring your number to your first training session.
The cycle is 200km each way, departing Friday and returning Sunday. The journey involves approximately 8 hours of cycling per day, but with breaks, it amounts to about 11 hours each day.
But here’s the good news: You DO NOT need to be able to cycle the full distance to join in! We have buses available to allow any cyclist to take a break. If you fall behind the group, support vehicles will pick you up, and you are welcome to get back on the bike at the next stop.
Official training starts in January and runs right up until the event. Training leaves from the Maynooth University South Campus at 10 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. As the cycles get longer later in the training schedule, some may leave at 9 am.
We run weekly training cycles to boost your fitness and teach you the proper etiquette for cycling in a group. We cycle at a comfortable pace (around 25 km/hr), and everyone is looked after by an experienced group of cycle marshalls. Distances start small at 20km and build up weekly until they reach 110km, just before the cycle. Longer cycles are also supported by a vehicle incase you need to take a break or have a problem with your bike.
No, attending both days is optional and intended to give people flexibility. However, to be fit for the main event, we recommend that you do some sort of training during the week as well. If you can’t regularly attend group training sessions, you should aim to train on your own, as the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the weekend.
Yes! For safety reasons, attendance is compulsory at two mandatory training sessions. You must attend one cycle during a chosen weekend in February and one during a chosen weekend in March. These are enforced to ensure you are comfortable cycling in a group before the event weekend. If you think you cannot attend the requisite mandatory cycles, please contact training@galwaycycle.ie to explain.
The safety of our cyclists is paramount. If there are adverse cycling conditions (like frost or bad weather), the training committee will make a call on whether to postpone training or cancel altogether. Training plans and updates in the event of bad weather are announced on the morning of training via the CYQL app and our Facebook page.
The type of bike we recommend is a roadworthy road/racing bike with breaks that are in working condition.
To participate in training or the event, you must:
Aside from the mandatory items, you should bring: water, food (like bananas, chocolate, or flapjacks), and some shopping money for tea/coffee & a snack. We also highly recommend padded shorts (if you ever want to sit down again!), gloves, a neck buff, warm footwear, and a light rain jacket. Remember to bring a spare tube and a pump for training.
You need two separate bags for the weekend:
Nope! There is no need to bring saddle bags, puncture repair kits, pumps, tyre levers, tubes, or locks for your bike. These items would only add weight, and all required maintenance and support are provided by our mechanics and support crew.
Safety is our number one priority. We are fully equipped for all circumstances with motorbike outriders, ambulances, and mechanics’ vans, and a Garda Escort when available. Cyclists must stay within “The Bubble”—the cavalcade of support vehicles—behind the lead van and in front of the ambulances. We have a dedicated safety crew and marshals on bikes who wear luminous yellow vests. You must obey their directions at all times.
The use of e-bikes and e-mopeds are not permitted. An exception may be considered on a case-by-case basis for inclusion where a medical condition prevents participation without electric assistance, where the Training Committee may consider the use of an e-bike (with a maximum power output of 250 watts or less, a motor that cuts off once you stop pedalling, and a maximum speed of 25km per hour). Any such arrangement is subject to a trial period and Training Committee review to ensure the rider can consistently maintain the group’s required pace and safety standards.
The cyclists travel at a speed of approximately 25 km/h from Maynooth to Galway. The route includes stops at Kinnegad, Moate, Ballinasloe and Loughrea. We cycle down on the Friday and then do the same route in reverse on Sunday.
Look for the live tracker on our website!
Arrival into Galway
The Galway cycle is a charity cycle that takes place annually over a weekend usually at the start of April
This year (2025) will be the 39th year of the cycle
The Galway cycle chooses a different charity each year to raise funds for. Charities are nominated and make their case each way the Galway cycle AGM. It is usually a Children’s charity that’s selected. This year the charity is the Gavin Glynn foundation. You can find out about their work helping children with cancer and their families here
The cycle starts from Maynooth university early on Friday morning and arrives in to Eyr Square in Galway on Friday afternoon. Cyclists stay in Galway on Friday and Saturday night. Cyclists then cycle back to Maynooth on Sunday, leaving early in the morning and arriving back in Maynooth on Sunday evening. The distance is about 200k each way (but very manageable when broken down into individual stops!)
Yes, unlike some other cycling events the Galway cycle has a unique bubble of cyclists. Cyclists stay together in a group the whole time. This makes for great comrades and craic!
The cycle utilises a huge group of support personnel each each. Experienced cycling marshals cycle with the group and keep things organised and safe – offering plenty of support and encouragement! Motor cyclists outriders control traffic and keep junctions clear. There are support vehicles with to pick up riders with any problems along with John’s Ambulance and technical support. The Guards join the group on some of the busier stretches to manage traffic
Yes there are several pre-designated stops on the way down for cyclists to have a break and get some food and drinks. The stops are about every 40k. The cycle food committee organises the stops and has food and drinks ready when cyclists arrive
Registration for the cycle is €70. Each cycle is required to raise a minimum of €400. Every cyclist receives at jersey with their name and a GC hoodie.
A large number of experienced cyclists take part each year, but no, it’s not just for experienced cyclists. Since its inception the Galway cycle has gotten hundreds of people who never cycled into cycling. Although cycling the distance is a decent challenge, help is at hand. Starting in January there is open graded training every weekend (come either Saturday or Sunday). New cyclists can come to build up there fitness but also learn to cycle in a group. The more experienced cyclists also come along on these spins and it’s a great way to meet your fellow cyclists, get out and of course go for coffee!
The training spins leave from Maynooth university every Saturday and Sunday morning from early January until the cycle in April. The group leaves at 10 initially and then 9 as the distances get a bit longer. Cyclists put their name down for a spin using the Cly app…
The first thing that happens is that we celebrate the achievement and have a good night out. On the Saturday we wear our GC charity hoodies and do some collecting in and around shop street in Galway. The sight and presence of you fellow GCs collecting always makes for a fun atmosphere!
Most cyclists look after their own accommodation but if you want you can avail of accommodation in the hostel…..
You can set up an idonte page and link to the GC…
The Gavin Glynn Foundation helps families of children battling cancer to travel overseas for treatment not available in Ireland.
The Gavin Glynn Foundation believes that all children with cancer deserve the best care, wherever in the world that might be.
The mission of the Foundation is to assist families with all the logistics and financial aspects of travelling overseas for specialist cancer treatment not available in Ireland.
The Gavin Glynn Foundation is delighted to partner with the Galway cycle for 2026. “We are really looking forward to getting as many people on
On Friday, we had the pleasure of presenting the grand total raised from Galway Cycle 2025 to our amazing charity partner, Oscar’s Kids A
Calling All Cyclists: Join the Galway Cycle on April 10th and Make a Difference for The Gavin Glynn Foundation! Cycling enthusiasts from Maynooth and beyond
