Killybegs student honoured as female cycling ambassador

St Catherine’s Vocational School student, Clara McGuinness, has been recognised as an Outstanding Ambassador for female cycling at an event held in Richmond Barracks, Dublin. 

Clara McGuinness received a medal at the #andshecycles awards ceremony in Dublin held on Wednesday, May 1. 

This year’s 44 ambassadors were celebrated for their achievements at the ceremony with Miss McGuinness one of 3 ambassadors honoured for their exceptional contributions to the campaign. All ambassadors received a medal for their contributions and were congratulated by An Taisce’s Director of Education, Cathy Baxter. Cycling enthusiast and performer Elaine Gallagher also provided enlightening entertainment on the history of women's cycling.

An initiative of Green-Schools Travel, the #andshecycles campaign was developed following research that indicated a staggering discrepancy in the number of female teens who cycle to school,  compared to their male counterparts, with estimates as low as just one in every 250 girls across Ireland cycling. 

The campaign aims to explore, understand and address barriers to cycling for teenage girls. The #andshecycles Ambassador Programme is an extension of this campaign with a focus on addressing the teenage cycling gender gap through trained student leaders who take action to enable and empower teenage girls to cycle to school. 

Throughout the school year, student ambassadors have taken part in a number of trainings including leadership and communication, bike maintenance, track cycling, and ambassador training, which have helped them to achieve significant actions within their school communities.

“The ambassadors have been working tirelessly throughout the school year to dismantle gender barriers, promote inclusion, create opportunities for girls to cycle, and act as real role models within their school communities,” Orla Patton, campaign co-ordinator said. “The work done by the ambassadors is nothing short of amazing and has made incredible, lasting change in their own schools and beyond.”