High Performance Unit Strengthened by Two New Appointments

Recent weeks have seen the successful recruitment of two new staff for the High-Performance unit at Cycling Ireland.

We're delighted announce our new Team Ops Manager, after establishing the new role and putting new systems in place to support team logistics and developing the role profile for a full-time post. Part funded by Paralympics Ireland, this crucial role in the team was successfully filled by Michael O Rourke. Michael had been working with the organisation responsible for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and was previously Team Ops Manager for Rowing Ireland.

High Performance Director Iain Dyer notes: “We had a very high calibre of candidate for this role, with a lot of interest from existing Team Ops Managers from home and abroad. Michael’s skillset, experience, and his obvious passion for the job really shone through, and we were delighted to be able to appoint him. Michael will be a critical part of our team support, and he’s already having a positive impact on our team operations.”

Michael said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to step into this role and support our athletes and staff. It’s a fantastic group to be working with, and I’m really looking forward to building on the great work already in place and playing my part in helping the team grow in the months and years ahead.”

More recently, the HP Pathway Lead Michael Black has left to become Performance Director at Irish Canoeing. Finding a replacement was a key priority behind the scenes this summer to ensure a seamless continuation of the HP Pathway, and to continue delivering on this year’s first HP Pathway Strategy developed by Michael and the team earlier this year.

Iain said: “We were delighted at how positive the response was for this role once advertised. We had genuine world-wide interest and some great candidates, which was pretty tough to narrow things down. We had some strong domestic candidates which was, firstly, very gratifying, but also makes it difficult for international candidates, because demonstrating the need for a foreign work VISA rightly becomes a tall order. In the end, we were very pleased to offer the role to Stuart Balfour, our YDO from Ulster.”

Stuart was formerly a pro rider that came through the ranks within the GB U23 system and the Scottish system, as well as Continental teams, competing at Tour de L’Avenir, Giro NextGen and U23 Road World Championships. More recently, prior to his role in Ulster, Stuart was also with Scottish Cycling in Development for two years.

“Stuart’s not that long retired as a professional rider and has a great deal of experience as a pathway athlete himself in high performing programmes and teams. He has a good handle on the provincial pathways, and a good eye for programme strategy, which I am sure will put him on a good footing.”

Stuart began his new HP Pathway Lead last week, and said: “After a great period working as the YDO in Ulster, I am looking forward to stepping into a nationwide wide role within Cycling Ireland’s High-Performance Unit. I’m privileged and excited to support the next generation of Irish cyclists coming through, who continue to go from strength to strength.”