In 1933 on a weekend cycling trip to Rostrevor, six friends, Eric Mason, David Perkins, Jim Doogue, Joe Walsh, Tommy and Leo Mc Manmon decided to form a cycling club. This was the beginning of what was to become one of Ireland's strongest clubs providing members with a platform from which to enjoy all aspects of cycling. Today the Dublin Wheelers has more than 100 active members, some competing at the highest level.
At the time not many people had cars and the bike was a popular and easy form of transport to escape to the countryside. Dublin had many cycling clubs, but it was not long before over a hundred members of the Dublin Wheelers would meet every Sunday morning outside the Irish Press offices on Burgh Quay. Tours would head off for the day into the Wicklow hills or north along the coast often finishing with tea and a dance (!!) in the Springfield Hotel Lexlip, White Heather Tea Rooms Wicklow, Butlers, Skerries, Dalkey and Bray. During the summer months evening spins were organised on Wednesdays.
Kilcock 1940. From left: Jimmy Murphy, Willie Marks, Bill Marks, Johnny Downes and Phil Deegan
Shortly after its foundation, the club developed a racing section. Success came quickly with riders such as Johnny Downs, Matt Hegarty and Ned Dunphy. In 1939 the club really made its mark and showed that it was a force to be reckoned with when Johnny Downs won a famous victory in an interclub race between Cork and Dublin Clubs. Johnny's family had a strong association with the club with seven of his family being members.
During the war years it was difficult to get bike parts and understandably club membership declined as people had more pressing issues on their minds. But thanks to the strong spirit engendered by the founding fathers membership swelled again in the late forties and early fifties.
In the 1950s the Wheelers continued to develop and attract some very strong riders and - thanks to Matt and Paddy Marlow - Jack Ryan and Martin Hannsey enjoyed numerous victories. Some of the more notable highlights that followed were in 1952 when Noel Tully won in a race organised by the Wheelers, the famous Hercules Cup, which was won again in 1953 by Donal O'Connell. Donal also won the C.R.E. Championship and held numerous national place-to-place records. In 1952, Billie Long, an outstanding time trial rider, was crowned national champion in both the 25 and 100 mile TT. Building on the clubs national success in 1952 the club went to Isle of Man and won an amazing total of 18 prizes with Noel Tully winning the Viking Trophy and Shay Elliott winning the Mannin Veg.
Top image. From left: Tommy Sullivan, Jack Collins, Willie Tully, Eddie Kennedy and Paddy Kerr
Middle image: Donal O'Connell winning the 1953 Hercules Cup
Dublin Wheelers team in Gorey 2024
Without doubt Shay Elliott has to be Dublin Wheelers most celebrated rider. Joining the club in 1952 he went on to twice win (1952 and 1953) the Irish National Road Championship and numerous other domestic events. Before embarking on a professional career in 1956, in recognition of his great achievements he was awarded honorary life membership of Dublin Wheelers. As a professional he won stages in the three big tours of France, Italy and Spain. In 1962 finished 2nd in the World Championship Road Race in Salo and in 1963 was the first Irish man to wear the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France. To great excitement at the time he heroically held on to the Jersey for three days.
Shay Elliott winning the 3rd stage into Roubaix to take Yellow Jersey at the 1963 Tour de France
Victories for the club continued into the 1960s and 1970s with a number of new talented riders emerging, many of who at the time were household names - riders like Jimmy and Sean Lally, Christy Kimmage who rode in the World Championships, Paddy and Christy Fitzsimons, John Flanagan, and Mick Manly (12 hour National TT champion) all frequently featured on the winning podium. The first stage of the inaugural Junior Tour saw the yellow jersey go to Gerry Smith who was competing in one of two Dublin Wheelers teams that were entered that year.
More recent successes include Brendan Madden winning the National Time Trial Championships, Stephen Byrne and Ken Norgrove winning many domestic races, Eamon Byrne in 1993 winning the Rás, Len Carrigan winning the Leinster Championship in 2004, Susan O'Mara and Helene Kinsella winning the Ladies Two Day, Julie O'Hagan being crowned National Champion 2004. Julie later went on to secure a professional contract with RaphaCondor. Honour was also conferred on the club when members, Andrew Donnellan, Brian Keane, Susan O'Mara, Julie O'Hagan and Eamon Byrne were selected to represent Ireland in international competitions.
In the late sixties and early seventies, the Dublin Wheelers were central to the organisation of cycling in Ireland with Donal O'Connell, Joe Doyle, Ian Gallaher and Steve Lawless holding key positions in the Irish Cycling Federation (ICF).
In the late seventies, Liam King was the central figure in negotiating re-unification of Irish cycling following many years of dissent and division. He subsequently became the inaugural President of the Federation of Irish Cyclists (later to become Cycling Ireland)
In 1969 Ian Gallahar and Paddy McInerney promoted a five-day evening race, which was later to become the Tour of Fingal. This five day evening race proved very popular and continued for 30 years with Paddy Fitzsimons, Brian Carolan, Susan O’Mara and Seamus Shortall instrumental in the latter years in organizing this event.
On the international scene the club promoted (again under the expert guidance of Paddy, Brian and Seamus) the International Ladies Two Day race which attracted riders from England, Scotland, Germany, Holland and Belgium.
Age presents no barrier to the Wheelers success, indeed some of the clubs more recent victories have been in the IVCA league. Jimmy Lally, Sé Weston, Mick Tynan and Greg Burke have all won high profile races and overall league titles.
These successes would not have been possible without the support of family, friends and sponsors of the club. On behalf of all those who competed we would like to thank you for so generously giving your time. Special thanks, to Willie Marks who for so many years was a member of various committees and recorded results at time trials.
In the earlier years - before international holidays were accessible and popular - the Dublin Wheelers had a very strong touring and hosteling section regularly having 60 members on runs. Tour leaders such as Willie Marks, Pascal Brogan and Eddy Kennedy tell great stories of billie cans, camp fires and dances. Some of the more adventurous members made trips to the UK, Italy, France, and Switzerland.
While hosteling no longer features, there is still a strong social component to the club. Dublin Wheelers Saturday tea stops are infamous for their candid banter and humour. Annually the club hosts a "not-to-be-missed" weekend trip to an exotic midland locations such as Carlow and Tullamore. Many lifelong friendships have been made through the club and members are always there to support each other.
Club House
For a number of years the Wheelers had an old tram carriage as a makeshift clubhouse located at field behind the Halfway House pub at Ashtown, Co. Dublin. Costing £20 to purchase it was a great meeting place until vandals destroyed it. Today no such luxury exists... Saturday spins come hail or shine, start from Santry Park.
Dublin Wheelers Team Tour of Ireland 1969
L to R: John Flanagan, Jimmy Lally, Tommy Tipper, John Conway, Derek McCullogh, Tony McNally.
The old clubhouse at Halfway House pub at Ashtown, Co. Dublin
The club celebrated its 80th anniversary at a time when cycling became hugely popular again. A well established club Dublin Wheelers saw huge numbers of new members join the club. Once again Dublin Wheeler jerseys were seen in all categories of open racing and much success was achieved. Race wins and numerous placings have been recorded from A4 to A1.
Dublin Wheelers continued to provide winners in the IVCA races. 2011 witnessed the rise of Greg Burke who made a late charge to overhaul the season-long leader of the league and take overall victory with points gained in the final race of the calendar. 2012 was the turn of Ciarán Farrell who won the league in fine style, wrapping up overall victory with two events remaining. Newcomer John Walsh almost made it a hat trick in 2013 when he came a very close second in the league. There were many other victories and placings in 2009 - 2013, with Len Carrigan, Jimmy Lally, Pat Byrne, Glenn Millar, Shay Dalton, Conor O Mara, Stephen Fennell and Barry Swan mixing it with the best.
After an absence of many years the Club League was re-introduced in 2013, when numbers were sufficient to sustain lively mid-week competition between friends. This process commenced with the TT League in 2009 (John Heery and Noel Guinan) and developed over a period of five years into a full blown club league with Time Trials, Road Races and Criteriums. The cycle racing circuit in Corkagh Park is used regularly along with circuits outside Dublin.
Also at this time, the Touring section was re-established and with Noel Guinan taking up the Touring Secretary’s role, various ability groups were set up. As well as the weekly Saturday spins from Santry, trips around the country and abroad were undertaken. Sportive events became very popular and these brought a new focus for many of the tourers. Regular touring leaders were in rotation, guaranteeing weekly variety.
Dublin Wheelers celebrated 90 years of cycling in 2023. Over the years the club has produced some of Ireland’s top riders winning national and international competitions and has made a great contribution to the sport. The glue that has held the club together has been the strong friendship between members. Cycling is a sport of ever-changing horizons, the club's next one will be its centenary!
Eamonn Potter pushing for the line
