04/01/2026
I did the bike technician course with Gareth in Balldoyle and would recommend him as a bike mechanic as well as a cycling instructor to any school group or youth group 🙌
He definitely is passionate about what he does 👍
How a lifestyle change led to a career reboot for this Louth man teaching children to cycle safely
By Margaret Roddy, The Argus
After 26 years in the IT industry, Louth man Garreth Curran was suffering from burn-out and went to see his GP in 2023—a visit that led to a life-altering career change. “The doctor said ‘you like cycling don’t you, why don’t you do something related to cycling,’” says Garreth, who lives in Dromiskin, south of Dundalk.
While he took his doctor’s advice on board, Garreth says changing careers after so long is not something that’s easy to do. Eventually, he saw an advertisement for a course in bicycle mechanics in Baldoyle. He completed the course while still working in IT, building on his lifelong hobby of fixing his own bikes to become a qualified mechanic.
As word of his new qualification spread, he was approached by Louth Sports Partnership. They asked if he would be interested in visiting schools to talk to pupils during Bike Week. After he agreed and visited a number of schools, they followed up by asking if he would be interested in becoming a cycling instructor.
This journey resulted in Garreth launching Cyclopath Bicycle Education. The initiative brings cycling programmes to primary schools across Louth, Meath, East Cavan, South Monaghan, and North County Dublin. The project operates in partnership with Cycling Ireland and is supported by the Department of Transport. These programmes help schools encourage active travel, develop children’s cycling skills, and build confidence and road safety awareness.
Garreth, who has two young children, is passionate about teaching children to cycle safely and confidently so they can enjoy their bikes. He believes the programmes will make a meaningful contribution to child safety and inspire healthier lifestyle choices within communities. “I want to keep kids safe on the roads and give them a good understanding of what’s involved in understanding the rules of the road and watching out for traffic,” he says.
The Cyclopath Bicycle Education programme offers training for primary school children from junior infants up to 5th and 6th class. It starts with balance bike and cycling classes for the infant classes, teaching them the basics of being able to get on a bike and cycle independently. “The idea of these sessions is to expose them to cycling for fun,” says Garreth, who can provide bikes where necessary. “A lot of children live in apartments and haven’t had any experience of getting on a bike.”
For the older pupils, the emphasis shifts to learning how to cycle safely on the road and understanding road markings and signs. Garreth provides bikes and helmets, tailoring the programme to meet the needs of all pupils, including children with disabilities.
The programme is highly accessible; it is subsidised for DEIS schools and remains affordable for others. For DEIS schools, it costs approximately €1.25 per hour per pupil, and €2.50 per hour for non-DEIS schools. Additionally, non-DEIS schools participating in An Taisce Green Schools may be eligible for further funding of €10 per pupil.
Garreth describes the feedback from schools as “incredibly positive.” The idea of teaching schoolchildren to cycle safely fits perfectly with the Active Travel programmes being rolled out across the county. He hopes that by learning to cycle when young, these children will grow up to have more consideration for cyclists when they eventually learn to drive.
Having cycled around the roads of Kilkerley when he was growing up, Garreth remains a huge advocate for the physical and mental health benefits of the sport. “To me, cycling is like meditation—you’re not worrying about things,” he says. “I had 23 years of sitting behind a desk; it’s nice to be going into schools and teaching children how to cycle.”
