About the Author

Máire O'Connor

Senior Cycling & Leisure Activities Correspondent

euetheia Limited

14 years championing accessible outdoor recreation for older adults across Ireland. Specialist in greenway infrastructure, low-impact cycling routes, and helping seniors rediscover the joy of cycling.

Core Expertise

What Máire Specialises In

Senior Cycling Advocacy

Promoting active, low-impact cycling for older adults. Breaking down barriers—fitness concerns, safety worries, equipment confusion—with practical, tested advice.

Ireland's Greenway Network

Deep knowledge of dedicated cycling paths across the Southeast. Personal cycling experience on over 1,200 kilometres of Ireland's traffic-free routes, including the Dungarvan to Waterford Greenway.

Leisure & Wellbeing

Sports Science background combined with real-world experience in community leisure programmes. Understanding how accessible routes genuinely transform quality of life for older adults.

Community Engagement

Six years coordinating leisure programmes with Waterford City Council. Regular interviews with cycling groups, physiotherapists, and older cyclists. Real stories from the Southeast community.

In Her Own Words

Questions & Answers

How did you become passionate about cycling for seniors?

It happened in 2010 when I volunteered with a community cycling group in Waterford. I watched people in their 60s and 70s—who hadn't cycled in decades—discover they could still do it. Some were nervous at first. Some were skeptical about their fitness levels. But once they got on a proper route, something shifted. They weren't just exercising. They were reconnecting with something joyful. That's what hooked me.

What changed when you cycled the Dungarvan to Waterford Greenway yourself?

That ride at age 48 was genuinely eye-opening. I'd read reports about the Greenway, but cycling it myself—seeing the surface quality, understanding the gradient, noticing the quiet stretches where you could actually hear birds—that's completely different from looking at a map. I realised immediately why older cyclists raved about it. It's flat, it's safe, and it's stunning. More importantly, I understood what barriers still existed. Some sections needed better signage. Some people needed reassurance about bike choice. That's when I knew I wanted to help others find these routes and feel confident using them.

What's the biggest misconception about older adults and cycling?

That you need to be fit to start cycling. Complete myth. I've worked with people who'd spent 20 years sedentary and were genuinely worried they couldn't manage it. What they needed wasn't better fitness—they needed the right route, the right bike setup, and someone saying, "Yes, this is absolutely doable." Fitness comes after, not before. On a flat greenway with proper support, age isn't the limiting factor. Confidence is.

You've worked with Waterford City Council and now euetheia Limited. What's different about your approach now?

In the council role, I could influence local projects and speak to community groups directly. That was invaluable. Now, through my writing and interviews at euetheia, I'm reaching people beyond Waterford—right across Ireland and beyond. I can test routes myself, gather stories from cyclists of all abilities, and share practical knowledge that's actually grounded in real experience. The scale is different, but the core mission hasn't changed: make cycling accessible and genuinely enjoyable for older adults.

What does a typical week look like for you now?

There's no typical week, honestly. Some weeks I'm researching a new greenway section or interviewing cyclists about their experience. Other weeks I'm writing feature articles, reviewing bike recommendations, or planning coverage of a community cycling initiative. I try to get out on routes regularly—not just in summer either. I want to understand what cycling feels like in winter, in wind, in variable weather. And I stay in touch with physiotherapists and cycling coaches. They see patterns I wouldn't catch from my own experience alone. It's that blend of personal testing, community conversations, and expert insights that makes the work meaningful.

Professional Background

Education & Experience

Education

Bachelor of Science in Sports Science & Leisure Management

University of Limerick

Career Timeline

2024–Present

Senior Cycling & Leisure Activities Correspondent

euetheia Limited

2018–2023

Leisure Programme Coordinator

Waterford City Council — developed and led cycling initiatives across Munster, managed greenway adoption projects

2010–2017

Community Cycling Group Volunteer & Coordinator

Waterford area — developed passion for senior-focused cycling programmes and accessible routes

Key Achievements

Cycled 1,200+ kilometres of Ireland's dedicated greenway network
Led successful greenway adoption initiatives across Waterford and Southeast region
Established cycling programmes reaching 400+ older adults since 2019
Regular contributor to national cycling advocacy discussions and media
Recognised expert voice on accessible outdoor recreation for seniors

Her Philosophy

What Drives Máire's Work

Máire doesn't approach cycling as a fitness challenge or a performance metric. She sees it as a gateway to independence, joy, and community for older adults.

Her core belief is simple: the right route, the right support, and the right information remove the barriers that keep people sidelined. She's pragmatic about challenges—fitness concerns, safety worries, equipment confusion—because she's heard them all and worked through them with real people.

Every article she writes is tested. Every route recommendation comes from personal cycling. Every interview with cyclists, coaches, and physiotherapists informs her perspective. She won't recommend something she hasn't verified herself or heard directly from the community.

There's no corporate polish in her work. Just honest, detailed advice grounded in 14 years of experience watching older adults discover or rediscover cycling. She believes accessibility isn't a nice-to-have feature—it's the foundation everything should be built on.

"Cycling shouldn't require perfect fitness, expensive equipment, or years of experience. It should require one thing: a route that feels safe and achievable. Everything else follows from there."

— Máire O'Connor

Questions or Feedback?

Máire welcomes questions, story ideas, and feedback from readers. You can reach out through the main contact form or explore more articles in the cycling for seniors category.

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