Coillte and Cycling Ireland have recently taken a significant step forward in their ongoing collaboration by signing Memorandums of Understanding, marking an exciting development for off-road cycling events in Ireland. Over the past months, both organizations have worked closely on various initiatives, and these agreements now pave the way for new opportunities, particularly in gravel cycling and mountain biking.
One major focus is the advancement of Gravel Cycling events on Coillte’s extensive forest road network. Building on their existing partnership, where Coillte already supports licensed mountain bike events, the two organizations plan to pilot a series of Gravel Cycling events over the next two years. This pilot aims to test a sustainable model for hosting such events in the future while offering high-quality gravel riding experiences tailored for Cycling Ireland members. The initiative emphasizes careful management that balances recreational use with Coillte’s broader objectives, including forest operations, biodiversity conservation, and infrastructure protection. It also seeks to support local cycling clubs and members nationwide.
Safety remains a paramount concern throughout the pilot. Since Coillte’s forest road network primarily serves forestry operations—often involving heavy-duty vehicles transporting timber and machinery—strict safety protocols will be enforced. All pilot events must be officially sanctioned by Cycling Ireland and organized by approved promoters. Each event will receive a Coillte license valid for five days to cover setup, the event itself, and teardown. Additional details about the Gravel Cycling Pilot will be shared soon via the Cycling Ireland website.
Alongside this, Coillte and Cycling Ireland have also agreed on a new Club Mountain Bike (MTB) Trails Protocol. This initiative will allow a select number of Cycling Ireland-affiliated clubs to develop and maintain local MTB trail networks on designated Coillte lands. These trails will be exclusively available to Cycling Ireland members and will be covered under the organization’s insurance policy. Use of these trails by non-members will not be permitted, nor insured, ensuring a safe and regulated environment for all participants.
Together, these initiatives reflect a strong commitment from both Coillte and Cycling Ireland to enhance off-road cycling opportunities in Ireland while prioritizing sustainability, safety, and community involvement.
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