About Ireland By Bike
Our Story
Ireland by Bike is a family business based in the village of Carrick, at the foot of Sliabh Liag in Donegal’s South West Gaeltacht area – a part of Ireland with some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland. The area is well known for its hospitality, and travellers always speak about the warm welcome they receive here. It’s a part of Ireland where the Gaelic language and local customs and traditions are cherished. Traditional Irish music is alive and well in this region, and in the local pubs and concert venues you’ll hear old and young play lovely local tunes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
It’s a part of Ireland where the Gaelic language and local customs and traditions are cherished. Traditonal Irish music is alive and well in this region, and in the local pubs and concert venues you’ll hear old and young play lovely local tunes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Séamus Gallagher set up Ireland by Bike in the winter of 2009 and our first season was in 2010. Séamus comes from Kiltyclogher in County Leitrim. He moved here in 1986 when he came to work as a metalwork teacher in the local school. Some years later, he worked as a tiler in our locality and in surrounding parishes, however his heart was always in the outdoors. Séamus is a runner and a cyclist, and over the years he has probably run or cycled on every road and hill in this part of Donegal.
In our first year, we started off with just 6 bikes and we welcomed fourteen clients. Those first people gave us fabulous feedback. Thanks to their encouragement, we continued to expand the business, welcoming more and more guests every year for an Ireland by Bike experience.
Our bike tour clients are forever telling us how great the electric bikes are and how happy they were that they chose to use them for their cycling holiday – especially when they are tackling the many hills of Donegal! Using an e-bike instead of an ordinary hybrid bike means that people can spend the whole day cycling and really exploring a wide area without being totally shattered at the end of it.
What We Do
Ireland by Bike provide self-guided cycling and walking holidays in a variety of stunning locations along Ireland’s North West and North coast. We want to show off what our area has to offer while making every day of your trip easy-going and carefree for you.
We know how much organization goes into planning a holiday – especially if you’re not familiar with an area. From our years of experience of planning tours for people, we’ve found that one of the most important things to get right from the start is your choice of tour. We all have different levels of fitness and everyone has their own idea about how relaxed or how challenging an activity holiday should be. Whether you are an individual, a couple, or a group, we will be happy to help you decide which one of our tours would be best for you.
As National Ambassadors for the “Wild Atlantic Way”, our aim is to ensure you experience Ireland at it’s very best. We offer bike tours and walking tours of the highest quality — holidays that we ourselves would want to go on and enjoy. Because our tours are self-guided, they allow you the freedom to discover the world at your own pace. Our tours are graded to suit cyclists and walkers of all levels.
We’re delighted to provide top of the range E-Bikes and Hybrid Bikes. Our routes are easy to follow. With turn-by-turn directions, maps, GPS and 24 hour support, you can make the most of being out in nature and fully enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Our daily luggage transfers mean that you only need to carry what you will require during your daily cycle or walk. When you arrive at your next destination, your luggage will be there waiting for you.
Bike Hire Service: Ireland by Bike also provide a bike hire service throughout the North West of Ireland. All of our E-Bikes and Hybrid bikes are of a very high quality and are meticulously maintained. For more information, please click here.
Our Team
Along with husband and wife founders (Séamus and Nóra), sons Dominic and Brian are also involved in our family business. Brian makes sure you’re booked into the very best accommodation. Dominic is a mechanic and makes sure your bike will be serviced and waiting for you in top condition when you arrive.
Oisín, the newest member of our team, is a bike mechanic. He and Dominic co-operate to make doubly sure your bike works perfectly.
Recent Developments
Because we want our clients to have the best possible experience, we have recently purchased a new fleet of top-notch hybrid bikes and electric bikes. The e-bikes are becoming ever more popular as they let you cover much greater distances while still experiencing the joy of cycling. There are lots of hills along the tour routes (that’s partly why the routes are so scenic.) Getting an e-bike to boost you up those hills will definitely put a smile on your face!
Because we want our clients to have the best possible experience, we have recently purchased a new fleet of top-notch hybrid bikes and electric bikes. The e-bikes are becoming ever more popular as they let you cover much greater distances while still experiencing the joy of cycling. There are lots of hills along the tour routes (that’s partly why the routes are so scenic.) Getting an e-bike to boost you up those hills will definitely put a smile on your face!
Looking towards the future…
Although Ireland by Bike has grown and developed over the years, our aim remains the same; to provide outstanding cycling and walking experiences for our customers while making a positive contribution to the local economy.
We continue to develope new tours in this region and we plan to develope some tours in other parts of Ireland in the future.
We hope that we can help you to plan a truly special holiday in Ireland.
Mar a deir an seanfhocal, bíonn siúlach scéalach…
There’s an old Irish proverb that says “travellers have stories to tell.” Well, there’s no doubt about it, a trip with Ireland by Bike is guaranteed to leave you with buckets full of wonderful memories – some for you to keep close to your own heart and others to share with your loved ones.