Hundreds of people flocked to The Murrough in Wicklow Town on Thursday 14th May to enjoy an action-packed Bike Week Festival hosted by Wicklow Sports and Recreation Partnership, in collaboration with Wicklow County Council’s Active Travel Team.

The completely free community festival brought together families, children, cycling enthusiasts and first-time riders for an afternoon celebrating cycling, active travel and outdoor recreation in a fun and inclusive environment.

One of the standout attractions on the day was the pop-up street velodrome, where attendees had the opportunity to test their cycling skills and experience the excitement of track cycling firsthand.

Fire Ride were also onsite delivering adrenaline-filled obstacle course sessions complete with ramps and technical features. Crowds gathered throughout the day to watch Fire Ride’s spectacular stunt show, which featured daring tricks from a steep launch ramp into a giant inflatable airbag catcher.

Festivalgoers were treated to a range of free activities and family-friendly entertainment throughout the day. The Wicklow Sports and Recreation Partnership team, alongside the Active Travel Team, handed out free cycling goodies and safety resources, while younger attendees enjoyed face painting, giant Jenga and cornhole games at the soft play station.

The Sensory Express, operated by Arklow Little Warriors, was also onsite throughout the festival, providing a calm and welcoming chill-out zone for those who needed a sensory-friendly space during the event and helping to ensure the festival was inclusive and accessible for all attendees.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, praised the success of the event, saying, “It was fantastic to see such a huge turnout at The Murrough for this year’s Bike Week Festival. Events like this are so important in encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get active, try cycling and enjoy the wonderful outdoor amenities we have here in Wicklow.”

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman, welcomed the growing enthusiasm for cycling across the county commenting, “It is fantastic to see the growing enthusiasm for cycling across Wicklow, with the nearby pump track already proving hugely popular. Events like the Bike Week Festival are a great way to encourage active travel while bringing communities together in a fun and inclusive way.”

Wicklow Sports and Recreation Partnership Programme Manager Sheena Hubbard said the festival exceeded expectations, “We were absolutely delighted with the turnout and the positive energy throughout the day. Our aim was to create a fun, inclusive and accessible event where people could come along, try something new and enjoy cycling in a relaxed environment. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and to all our partners and volunteers who helped make the event such a success.”

Bike Week is a national initiative funded by the Department of Transport and supported locally by Wicklow County Council and Wicklow Sports and Recreation Partnership, promoting cycling and active travel through a variety of free events and activities across the county.